Engendering Justice - from Policy to Practice - The Fawcett Society

I feel that women with severe mental health problems areneglected. I often come across women who I feel shouldnot have been processed via the criminal justice systembut who should have been immediately redirected tosecure hospital facilities. The severe lack of secure femalehospital beds in the UK also impacts upon the speed withwhich these women can be transferred from prison tohospital. 56Staff were concerned at their limited options. “A lot offemales have mental health issues and clearly should not bein prison as most of the officers that have to manage themdo not have mental health training.” 57The Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Schemes,discussed earlier in this chapter, should developrelationships with teams in female prisons so that supportcan be provided to offenders in need. The Commissionalso recommends that training is provided to prison staffin relation to mental health needs and that qualified mentalhealth professionals are recruited to provide this trainingand to offer around-the-clock guidance for staff. At thevery least, one trained mental health nurse or social workershould be on duty at all times.While further steps must be taken to safeguard the lives ofwomen in prison, the real answer lies in diverting womenfrom prison in the first place. Prison should not be used tocontain self-harm, suicide attempts and mental illness. AsDeborah Coles, Co-Director of INQUEST stated “Unlessmore women are diverted from prison the increase in selfinflicted deaths and the associated high levels of self harm,mental distress and family disruption will continue.” 58When deaths in custody tragically occur, support shouldbe provided to the families of these women. The CorstonReport recommended that public funding be providedfor bereaved families to cover legal representation atinquests relating to deaths in state custody and travel,accommodation and subsistence to attend the inquest.This funding should not be means tested. The Commissionis concerned that the Government has rejected thisrecommendation and strongly reiterates that funding shouldbe provided to these families.Women with ChildrenIt’s my children – they are my biggest concern becauseI’ve not spent a day away from them since they were born.I was still breast feeding my baby when I came in here.The judge didn’t care. My baby wasn’t used to bottled milkand he wouldn’t take any milk for 2 days. I applied to themother and baby unit when I first came in; the panel sits inJanuary. When I came into custody there were no facilitiesto express milk. I think me being in prison has mentallyaffected my children. My son’s school work has suffered.I didn’t get the chance to explain to him that I was comingto prison. It happened so fast. He started wetting the bedand it’s affected his school work.Female Offender, Questionnaire Response, January 2009It is estimated that up to 17,700 children each year areseparated from their mothers due to imprisonment and thatonly 5 percent of the children of women offenders remainin their own home once their mother has been sentenced.At least one third of women offenders with children are loneparents prior to imprisonment. 59 Evidence presented to theCommission revealed that separation from their childrenand concerns over how the imprisonment was affectingtheir children was paramount for many women offenders.As one mother told Birth Companions (see box next page):If it is inevitable that pregnant women and mothers haveto be sent to prison, then the Court should take thepregnancy, the children and the length of separation intoconsideration. Because when mothers are separatedfrom their babies and children, the children suffer .60Maintaining family ties through visits and other contact isvery important for these women and their children. Firstnight procedures and induction must provide an opportunityfor women to identify concerns about children or anyvulnerable adults in their care and phone calls should beallowed on reception to family members. First night incustody initiatives such as that run by the Prison Adviceand Care Trust (PACT) are particularly useful to reduce theanxiety faced by female prisoners and to decrease the riskof self harm or suicide and should be introduced across thefemale prison estate.Page 33