Women offenders: after the Corston Report - United Kingdom ...

8 Women offenders: after the Corston Reportlesser seriousness. In the 12 months to June 2012, 81% of women entering custody undersentence had committed non-violent offences, compared with 71% of men. 7 For example,over half (52%) of women sentenced had committed petty offences related to theft and thehandling of stolen goods, compared with one-third (33%) of men. In addition, over aquarter (26%) of women sentenced to imprisonment had no previous convictions, morethan double the figure for men (12%). Among those serving sentences of less than 12months the disparity is greater: 29% of women, compared to 12% of men, have no previousconvictions. 810. Between 2000 and 2007 the annual average women’s prison population increased by31%. 9 Following Baroness Corston’s report the population continued to increase andfluctuate, but there are encouraging signs that it is beginning to reduce. Between 2007 and2012 the average annual female prison population has fallen by 5%, against a rise in thetotal average annual prison population of almost 9%. 10 A total of 9,832 women werereceived into prison in 2012, representing a 3% fall on the previous year, but a 17% fallsince 2007. 11 The number of women remanded in custody in 2012 was also lower, falling by9% since 2011 and by 28% since 2007. Nevertheless, women continue to account for asimilar proportion (9%) of prison receptions as, since their average length of sentence isshorter to that of men, both from magistrates’ courts and the Crown Court, their turnoveris higher.Characteristics of women who offend and those at risk of offending11. Baroness Corston’s tripartite categorisation of the vulnerabilities of women who end upin prison illustrates the multiple and complex problems that many female offenders face.Our witnesses generally endorsed her findings that the extent of need is frequently greaterthan amongst male offenders and vulnerabilities are more widespread. Women’s offenceprofiles and distinct needs were borne out in the caseloads described to us by individualprobation trusts, women’s community projects and others working in the sector. 12 TheNelson Trust, for example, described to us its service users as:“…women already at the margins of criminal behaviour who have not yet beenarrested: binge-drinking, antisocial behaviour, sex working, abusive relationships,crack and heroin use, rough sleeping, personality disorders and unaddressed mentalhealth problems all correlate highly with a drift towards offending behaviour eventhough none of these, except drug possession, are offences themselves”. 1312. Ministry of Justice statistics gathered from women’s community projects data showthat almost half of the women referred to the projects have needs in more than four areas:7 Ministry of Justice, Criminal Justice Statistics, June 2012. See also Ev w32 [Note: references to ‘Ev wXX’ are referencesto written evidence in the volume of additional written evidence published on the Committee’s website]8 Ibid.9 Ministry of Justice, Offender management caseload statistics 2012: annual average prison population table, May201210 Ibid.11 Ministry of Justice, Offender management caseload statistics 2012: first receptions table, May 201212 See for example Ev w7, Ev 103, Ev 66, Ev w45, Ev 114, Ev w57, Ev w63, Ev w70, Ev 74, Ev 82, Ev w10913 Ev w32