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

30 Women offenders: after the Corston Reportdifference to them. Their responses varied and included: housing; counselling; mentoringand peer-support; drug treatment; and appropriate mental health provision. 137 Although itshould be noted that some of them had experiences of the criminal justice system goingback some years, there was a general consensus that, at the time they had needed it, therewas a lack of help; they noted some improvements over the duration of their involvementin the system but described on-going difficulties in accessing appropriate help, particularlywith resettlement from prison and alcohol treatment. 138 Another woman gave us herperspective of the limitations of probation:“The emphasis of probation, even today, is still very much on punishing you. It isseen as a curb on your freedom and a requirement upon you. A lot of women havevery chaotic, complicated lives. They find making appointments and keepingappointments, when they feel that they are being punished and not rehabilitatedthrough the probation service, very challenging.” 139Limitations on sentencing options69. The Magistrates’ Association drew attention to inconsistencies in community provisionfor women offenders: 20 of the 35 probation trusts have no women’s centre projects, and 9trusts have no female offender specified activity requirement. Where specific provision forwomen does exist it is recognised both by magistrates and the Inspectorate that these canlead to reductions in breach and re-offending, but doubts about the sustainability of suchprojects may result in their under-utilisation. HMI Probation suggested that this may alsostem from a lack of awareness of sentencers and under-developed relationships betweencentres and offender managers. As we heard from women offenders themselves, not allwomen have difficulties with the unisex approach to the delivery of probation services, butmagistrates recognise that some women may be reluctant to attend offices or unpaid workplacements where male offenders are likely to be present; this may lead to a lack ofcompliance or lack of engagement. The Magistrates’ Association suggested that thefollowing minimum gender-specific services should be available in all areas: bailaccommodation; separate premises/days for probation appointments; unpaid workplacements; and rehabilitation programmes. The HMI Probation report on offendermanagement found no significant differences in the way women and male offenders werecase managed by probation trusts.70. There remain significant disparities in the availability to sentencers of gender-specificsanctions. The Magistrates’ Association raised a number of concerns about existingprovision including: a drive for localism leading to inconsistency in sentence provision andpotentially inadequate provision for sometimes small numbers of women offenders;although separate services for women can lead to reductions in breaches of orders andreoffending, provision of community sentencing specifically for women is very variableand in many places non-existent, potentially leading to injustice; specific sentencingoptions for women may be under-used because there are doubts about sustainability; andprovision for women with mental health issues should be standard as the majority of137 Qq 31–37138 Q 40139 Q 38