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

Women offenders: after the Corston Report 73was an approach that failed completely to take account of Baroness Corston’srecommendations about a network of women’s centres in the community, some ofwhich might have residential accommodation attached.” 396Clinks argued that to analyse the economic implications of current provision properly, arealistic costing of small custodial units for a much reduced women’s prison population isrequired. 397189. In addition the Government has undertaken no international overview of smallcustodial units where they existed elsewhere. 398 For example, we heard that residentialcentres in Germany took an integrated approach to imprisonment and welfare: women aregiven curfews to return in the evening; children can live there, so they are able to attendschool. Juliet Lyon described them as “a transitional place, a halfway house, between aprison and being wholly out in the community”. 399 A Women in Prison report on thefeasibility of small custodial units cited several examples from other jurisdictions, includingother examples, where children are able to remain with their mothers. 400 Nick Hardwickbelieved that smaller custodial units would be feasible within the existing prison estate, butemphasised the need to consider also the requirements for staffing such units, which hebelieved would require a distinct staff cadre, who have the skills, competences and thesympathy or empathy to work with women prisoners. 401190. On the other hand, concern has been raised in other jurisdictions—for exampleScotland where the existing women’s prison is not seen as fit for purpose—that moneyspent on building new, smaller, more gender appropriate units would divert resources thatcould perhaps be invested to better effect in community-based provision. Some witnesses,including Frances Crook and INQUEST, suggested making progress on thisrecommendation would require political courage. 402The role of Approved Premises and other forms of supportedaccommodation191. In her report Baroness Corston lamented the lack of provision of approved premisesfor women, especially for bail, and particularly in rural areas. Our evidence indicates thatonly limited changes had been made in the use of approved premises since her report. 403Liz Hogarth told us that there had been some shift in the use of existing approved premisesfor medium risk offenders, for example to enable women to meet licence or bailconditions, and for those women with high needs in relation to mental health and drugs.The Criminal Justice Alliance pointed out that approved premises are not fully utilised. 404396 Q 144397 Ev 89398 Q 144399 Q 147 [Ms Lyon]400 Women in Prison, Report on the Roundtable on Small Custodial Units, May 2012401 Q 232–233402 Q 146 [Ms Crook], Ev w124403 Ev w1, Ev w70404 Ev w70