Women in Prison respond to Government Announcement of Sentencing Review

For immediate release, Monday 21 October 2024, 22.30pm. Contact: [email protected] +44 7823 412 090.

The Government has announced a Sentencing Review, aimed at addressing major challenges within the criminal justice system, such as prison overcrowding.

The review, led by former Conservative justice secretary David Gauke, will explore critical changes to sentencing practices in England and Wales. One of the key considerations expected is the introduction of a presumption against short sentences, a measure that would likely have profound implications for women, who disproportionately receive custodial sentences of 12 months or less.

The Ministry of Justice outlined key points of the review, including:

• Protecting the public and punishing serious offenders

• Reducing reoffending

• Exploring “tougher punishments” outside prison as alternatives to custody

Sonya Ruparel, CEO at Women in Prison, responded to the announcement:

“The Sentencing Review marks a pivotal moment and significant opportunity to transform the way women are treated by the justice system.

For too long, women have been disproportionately affected by short sentences, with 53% of women in prison in 2022 serving sentences of six months or less (Prison Reform Trust).

This approach has failed to address the root causes of women’s offending, which are overwhelmingly linked to inequality – from poverty and mental health issues to experiences of domestic abuse.

These sentences punish women for their circumstances and a few weeks in prison can lead to the loss of housing, employment, and even their children, making it so much harder for women to rebuild their lives.

Through the Sentencing Review the Government has an important opportunity to address some of the most serious challenges in our justice system. Prisons are unable to keep women, and their children safe, and we hope the review leads to an end to short sentences, imprisonment of pregnant women, criminalisation of survivors of domestic abuse, and an end to use of prison as a “place of safety” for women with mental health problems.

The review marks a brave step toward building a fairer and more effective justice system, and we are hopeful that it signals the beginning of meaningful change for women.”

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

For media enquiries, contact [email protected] 07823 412 090

Key statistics

• According to the Ministry of Justice, the women’s prison population is projected to increase to 4,200 by November 2027 (1).

• Self-harm incidents in women’s prisons increased by 11% in the 12 months to December 2023 (2).

• The majority of women in prison (82%) report that they have mental health problems compared with just over half of men (59%) (3).

• 57% women in prison reported that they had been experienced domestic violence (4).

1. Prison Population Projections: 2023 to 2028, Ministry of Justice

2. Safety in Custody Statistics, England and Wales: Deaths in Prison Custody to December 2023 Assaults and Self-harm to September 2023

3. Bromley Briefings Prison Factfile, February 2024, Prison Reform Trust

4. “There’s a reason we’re in trouble” report, Prison Reform Trust, December 2017