Independent Sentencing Review published – Women in Prison respond

“The recommendations in today’s Independent Sentencing Review present an historic opportunity to deliver better outcomes for the public and, vitally, change a criminal justice system that sets women up to fail.

We are pleased to see a clear recognition that custody should only be used for women as an absolute last resort; something Women in Prison has advocated for decades.

Right now, our charity is working with women who have fled domestic abuse, been coerced into offending, or ended up in prison due to mental ill-health, poverty, and homelessness.

Women are being criminalised on a regular basis for the abuse they suffer. With nearly 60% of women in prison having experienced domestic abuse, the Review is a missed opportunity to stop the criminalisation of domestic abuse survivors and bring about better justice that accounts for women’s lived realities.”

“Prison can cost a woman her home, her job, even her children. It sets her up to fail and traps her in a cycle of crisis and criminalisation. For pregnant women who are given custodial sentences, the risks are extremely high and in the worst cases can lead to her losing her baby.

We largely welcome the Review’s recommendations, particularly the clear move away from short custodial sentences, which are proven to be ineffective and disproportionately harmful to women.

We are also encouraged by the acknowledgement of the specific risks and harms faced by pregnant women in prison. We welcome the Review’s recommendation that pregnant women and new mothers should be diverted and supported in the community, unless in exceptional circumstances.

These changes will only succeed if matched by bold investment in robust, trauma-informed, community-based alternatives. Reducing the use of short sentences can be a watershed moment for women’s justice—if done well and not replaced by longer sentences.

We also welcome the Review’s commitment to long-term, sustainable investment in the third sector and community services. But this support must not come at the cost of the independence of specialist organisations like ours.

These recommendations offer a rare and urgent opportunity to reduce the women’s prison population and deliver lasting change. We urge the government to adopt them and to use them as a bold foundation for the forthcoming Women’s Justice Board strategy.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

• Women in Prison (WIP) is a national charity that delivers support for women affected by the criminal justice system in prisons, in the community and through our Women's Centres. We campaign to end the harm caused to women, their families and our communities by imprisonment.

• The Independent Sentencing Review was published on 22 May 2025

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