Engendering Justice - from Policy to Practice - The Fawcett Society

The Commission recommends that if prison staff becomeaware, or have a suspicion, that a woman has been a victimof trafficking that she is referred immediately to supportservices such as the Poppy Project. In cases where anappeal against a custodial sentence on the grounds thatan individual has been trafficked is underway, and theindividual’s sentence expires, the woman should not beautomatically sent to a detention centre but should bereleased into the care of an appropriate support service,pending the outcome of the appeal.Women with histories of violence and abuseOne in three women in prison report having experiencedsexual abuse and over half have suffered domestic abuse. 81The Bradford Rape Crisis & Sexual Abuse Survivors Servicein their annual report (2007-08) noted that 81.7 percent ofwomen they have seen at HMP & YOI New Hall during theyear in the provision of their women’s counselling servicehave suffered domestic violence or sexual abuse. 82 Therelationship between female offending and histories ofviolence and abuse has received increased attention overthe past few years. Research has noted the significanceof the criminal justice system as a major source ofintervention in women offenders’ lives and the opportunityfor the probation and prison service to take a lead role inco-ordinating the contributions of specialist and voluntarysector agencies in order to help women deal with pastviolence and abuse. 83Counselling services such as that provided by BradfordRape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Survivors Service (see box)are therefore crucial. However, the funding and provisionof services to help female offenders deal with past abuseis limited. Rape Crisis told the Commission that the needfor work within prisons with survivors of sexual abuse isurgent but it cannot be undertaken without a Governmentcommitment to fund these programmes. 84Good Practice Example: CounsellingService in HMP New HallThe Bradford Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse SurvivorsService delivers a full time counselling service at HMPNew Hall. They work with women who have been raped,sexually abused, physically, mentally or emotionally hurtas children, or have suffered from any form of violenceas adults. This service is highly valued by those whouse it and has a demonstrated positive impact. Theshort and long term counselling has helped women dealwith their past and plan for their future, build safe andconfident relationships, provided women with skills todeal constructively with problems and increased theirself worth. In the year from April 2007 to March 2008,929 appointments were provided by the service and 344referrals were made to them.Email address info@brcg.org.uk Tel: 01274 723896Staff who work in women’s prisons and probation servicesshould be trained to address the needs of female victimsof violence, including screening, risk assessment, safetyplanning and referral to specialist services.Resettlement NeedsFamily break up is more severe and final for femaleoffenders and it is more difficult to repair relationsespecially if children have spent time in care. Men tend toleave prison and be met by their families. Women moreoften leave alone. 85Women in Prison told the Commission they are particularlyconcerned that the two new pathways for womenoffenders are not translating into changes in the approachtowards, and provision for, resettlement. 86 Further, thereare particular problems for female prisoners in relation toaccommodation, accessing benefits and services andregaining custody of their children.Women often face different and more complex housingissues than male prisoners upon release, with one third ofwomen losing their homes while in prison. For example,as St Giles Trust told the Commission, big hostels for thehomeless are often not a safe place to house vulnerablewomen but in cities (and particularly London) there maybe no other option. Women’s role as primary carers alsoPage 39