Women In Prison: A Review of the Current Female Prison System: Future Directions and Alternatives

A review of relevant literature has indicated that women are sentenced inconsistently by the criminal justice system showing differences between harsh, equal or lenient treatment. This dissertation highlights that sending women to prison, who tend not commit serious crime and drawing a prison population who have the characteristics of economic and social deprivation, is completely unnecessary. It also highlights the penal institutions to which women are sentenced, are failing to provide for the specific needs of women or to equip them with ways to improve their future prospects. Whilst it is recognised that the government is aware of such problems, through the publication of the Corston Report (2007) and their subsequent response, radical shifts in sentencing policy and practices to restrict the numbers of women sent to prison are desperately needed. Considering the secondary research findings, a number of recommendations for future policy and practice have been made in four main areas; increasing the use of non-custodial penalties, a substantial reduction in custodial remand, reform of custody and increased diversion from prosecution. 1 This Dissertation is submitted in part-fulfilment of the degree of Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Criminology, Nottingham Trent University Internet Journal of Criminology © 2008 www.internetjournalofcriminology.com 2 Introduction The issue of women s imprisonment is currently very contemporary within modern criminology and has wide-ranging implications for both policy and practice. However, it has been noted that women s offending has historically received much less attention in comparison to offending by men (Sheehan et al, 2007). Whilst the campaign for better regimes, changes in sentencing patterns and calls for fewer women being imprisoned, is not recent, the concern over the substantial increase in the female prison population has emerged with greater importance than in previous years. Continuing problems of overcrowding, high prevalence of mental disorder and the excessive cost of imprisonment are concerns particularly highlighted by the media. Newspaper articles surrounding the treatment of female offenders and documentaries such as Real Bad Girls (2002) and Women On the Edge: The Truth About Styal Prison (2006) have been extremely informative in showing the pressing need for reform through emotive insight into the prevalence of self-injury in women s prisons. The Corston Report (2007) and campaigning by groups such as Women In Prison, Smart Justice for Women, Prison Reform Trust and the Howard League for Penal Reform, have more recently brought the subject of women s imprisonment to the Government s agenda and point towards a number of reforms. It is imperative to continue research in this area to ensure the issue is sufficiently managed by the criminal justice system and to encourage ongoing discussion and debate. The following research aims and objectives have emerged following an in-depth consideration of the general research question. The aims for this dissertation are to: 1. Identify the substantial increase in the female prison population and the reasons behind the rise. 2. Identify the fundamental issues about the very purposes of imprisonment and if these are justified, taking into account the criminal profiles of women. 3. Identify the common characteristics of the female prison population. 4. Provide a critical analysis of the current prison regime and an overview of the provisions it affords its prisoners. 5. Identify what alternatives are available. 6. Make recommendations for future reform.