Engendering Justice - from Policy to Practice - The Fawcett Society

Chapter Five:Justice Needs WomenWomen as Workers in the Criminal Justice SystemPrison Service…there is a need to constantly have to prove oneself toavoid criticism from my male peers who appear very quickto judge and very slow to forget. 261As the Prison Service has itself acknowledged theresourcing problem in some women’s prisons has resultedin a shortfall in the number of women in uniformed gradesavailable to undertake tasks which have to be carried outby women staff, including tasks such as full body searching,rub down and pat down searching of women (includingvisitors) and supervision of showering, bathing andchanging. 262 As one prison worker stated:Where only women are able to do the searching onthe female prisoners there should also be some jobstherefore that are specifically assigned to men to balancethis as at this time women are able to do everything andare therefore required to whereas it is easier for maleofficers. 263While another officer commented:I don’t think we’ve got enough female staff. Some womenwouldn’t feel comfortable talking to a man; some are evenscared of them. I’ve been told by some women that theydon’t even want them unlocking their cell. 264The number of female staff should be increased throughthe use of the genuine occupational qualifications exceptionin relation to recruitment, training, promotion or transferunder section 7(2) of the Sex Discrimination Act. Part-timeworking and job-sharing and positive action measures,such as the special measures under CEDAW, would also bevaluable.As Table Seven demonstrates, there is also a lack ofwomen at senior management levels with less than aquarter of prison governors being women. However, itis encouraging that four out of the ten newly appointedDirectors of Offender Management are female. 265As a recent report noted “government policy on prisons ismired in contradiction.” 266 Staffing levels have increasedbut at a slower pace than the growth in prisoner numbersand meanwhile the budget in real terms has decreased by7 percent since 2001. This is placing real strain on prisonstaff.Sexual Harassment has been a persistent problem withinthe prison service. In 2007, the Equal OpportunitiesCommission (EOC), embarked on a formal investigationof the frequency and persistence of sexual harassmentagainst women and men working for HMPS. However,this investigation has been suspended on the basis ofan agreement between HMPS and the EOC (and now itssuccessor EHRC) on an action plan to prevent and dealeffectively with sexual harassment. This agreement lastsuntil 30 November this year, by which time HMPS shouldhave implemented its action plan and put monitoring intoplace.The Commission welcomes the action plan. However,responses from females working within prisons reveala culture of institutional sexism. As one prison officercommented, “I feel if I don’t partake in sexual banter I getleft out and am not one of “the boys.” 267 Many responsesalso revealed that women working within the prison servicefeel that this culture is the standard against which they areassessed. As one woman remarked, “You feel that youhave to prove yourself a bit more and constantly answerquestions on your capability.” 268I am aware of the measures [equality and diversity] in placeI am also aware of many staff that will not follow thosemeasures for fear of future reprisal. Unfortunately the moreit is highlighted, the less people are honest and decisionsare then made based on how we can make this appear fairand equitable.Female in the prison service, questionnaire response,December 2008Workers also told the Commission that the prison workinghours make it very difficult for women with children tomaintain employment. “There should be more familyflexiblehours for women with children. I reckon shifts ofeleven and a half hours are too much.” 269 A number ofrespondents were also concerned that women with caringresponsibilities would be unable to fulfil the initial residentialtraining requirements for the prison service. In addition, itwas highlighted to the Commission that it was also difficultPage 78