Sussex Prisoner’s Families welcomes the announcement that a record amount of funding will be directed to services and organisations preventing women from going to prison. The government is clear that many women in prison are victims themselves and need proper support, not imprisonment. Prison is ineffective and expensive, it is the wrong intervention for women, their children and wider society and alternatives must be properly funded.
This funding comes because of the Women’s Justice Board recommendations that starkly laid out the realities of women’s imprisonment; homelessness, self-harm and expensive interventions by local authorities to support children suddenly without their primary carer. For example, it costs £20-30,000k to keep a child in foster care per year, or the scenario where remaining family members are expected to look after children when their mothers go to prison, without any financial or emotional support at all. The impact of these situations is horrendous. Families collapse, we see poverty, mental and physical illness, long-lasting unemployment and deep inter-generational harm, as a result
SPF strongly supports this funding announcement. Our work shows us that women and their families need support, not prison sentences. Which is why we are working with the Maslow Foundation on the Families Connections Project. This project uses Child Impact Assessments to demonstrate to judges and magistrates the negative impacts of women’s imprisonment on children, using their own words and experiences, and the more effective alternatives. A pathway of support is provided, referring to relevant services and with direct family support from our highly experienced practitioners. If you know a woman who is at risk of going to prison and would like to find out more about CIA’s please contact: sarah@sussexprisonersfamilies.org.
We know that these approaches work and appreciate the vision and overall practical detail of the recommendations the Women’s Justice Board has brought forward. We also look forward to seeing how the government utilises the newly agreed, civil society covenant. And how through it, they will look to ways to support charities financially, who are working with women and children in this area. These charities are often small to medium sized and can be “priced out” of any Ministry of Justice tenders, that favour the larger, national organisations or charities. Our Impact Report shows smaller charities like ours can have a disproportionate impact when given the opportunity.
We look forward to the forthcoming Young Women’s Strategy, with its projected focus on care experienced women and victims of violence and people trafficking, keeping these extremely vulnerable people outside of the criminal justice system.
Especially welcome is the directive that all police forces have gender-specific, trauma-informed diversion pathways for women, in part meaning the police will act as an important referral gateway into services. Sussex Prisoners’ Families agree that gender-specific, trauma informed practice will ensure the best outcomes for women; police officers will need training in this practice to guarantee this. It is crucial that the government follow up and ensure this training and these pathways are properly developed and maintained.
Of high importance is the acknowledgement within the strategy that women are disproportionately criminalised for non-payment of tv licenses or council tax given that we know that this is often the result of poverty related to domestic abuse, particularly financial control. This route into the criminal justice system overwhelmingly impacts women and rarely has the same impact on men. Recognising this discrimination will keep more women out of prison and home with their families.
Around this intervention the supporting pillars of home building, investments in mental and physical health infrastructures, changes to SEND support and education reform are needed, but this funding and the recommendations for its use are certainly a positive step that we believe will result in less imprisonment for women and greater family health and wellbeing.
Sussex Prisoners’ Families is planning to be a Tier 2 provider for Sussex Women’s Rehabilitative Services funded. If you are interested in hearing how we can support your bid, please contact Cat on cat@sussexprisonersfamilies.org.uk.
Sussex Prisoners’ Families can offer training in trauma informed practices. Please get in contact with siobhan@sussexprisonersfamilies.org.uk.
