WOMEN IN PRISON IN UK

Most of us would like to think that we could never go to prison. However, if you have a conversation with women, most know exactly which crime could cause them to be imprisoned. Sexual abuse, this is Lioness talk to protect their young.

Women in Prison in the UK is an in-depth topic and I am only going to touch the surface right here but if you want to know more start with the Corston Report 2007.

When I was homeless, pregnant and in temporary accommodation. I was at breakfast sat eating with women I didn’t know. They were laughing and talking, then one turned around to another table and said, ‘do you know what this reminds me of? ‘ Prison! Then they all laughed. I was ‘SHOCKED’. I was such a snob back then, but humbled by my plight. I was surprised that these women looked so ‘ordinary’. And that’s the point.

BANGED UP

Although women are arrested less compared to men, they commit less serious offences. For instance, in 2019, 55% of females committed (summary offences) like shoplifting, driving without insurance, compared to 29% for men. The problem is, if you commit loads of thefts over a short space of time the Courts get fed up and you are likely to end up in prison.

SHORT PRISON SENTENCES

Most women receive short sentences, which seems favourable. However, after speaking with hundreds of women in prison, Baroness Corston concluded it was not. In that short time a mother has to find someone to care for her dependants, if there is no one, that child ends up in care. If a woman is imprisoned for more than 13 weeks she may be released homeless. Housing benefit only pays rent up to 13 weeks.

SOME EXAMPLES OF THE HOW

Ending up in prison can be unexpected. The argument with an neighbour goes South. Or the lactating girlfriend turns up at the ‘side chicks’ house and confronts her. Obviously not for a friendly talk, words are thrown and may be a punch or two. But the deciding factor that causes her to be imprisoned is her comment ‘I should slap her too’ referring to the child that is present. It didn’t matter that this was a breast-feeding mother or that her baby was only months old. She was remanded in prison until her trial she was stunned.

FACTORS

• Women were sent to prison on 5,011 occasions in 2020 – either on remand or to serve a sentence.
• Most of them have dependent children – an estimated 17,000 children are affected by maternal imprisonment every year.
• They suffer higher rates of mental health issues, self=harm and anxiety compared to men.
• Are amongst the most vulnerable of all in prevalence and complexity of their needs.
• Many women have a history of abuse and trauma.

WOMEN IN PRISON SO WHAT!

There’s a saying ‘if you can’t do the time don’t do the crime.’ I watched an episode of Loose Women and only Janet Street Porter seem to get it. No one is suggesting women be treated leniently – just differently as expected when you apply diversity. Imagine if a deaf person was treated the same as everyone else at a conference or a Court hearing. Imagine, no Sign interpreter, no checking that they can hear what is being said with their hearing aid. Most would think not to treat them different would be disgraceful. So what about the women.

CURRENT SYSTEM NOT WORKING

A lot of the women who receive short prison sentences return, not surprising because many of their needs have not been addressed. Strategies have been proposed but not given full attention. For example the Corston Report recommendations, The Female Offender Strategy, and the UN Bangkok Rules.

THE UN BANGKOK RULES

The Bangkok Rules, or formally, “The United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders”. These are a set of 70 rules focused on the treatment of female offenders and prisoners adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 22 December 2010.

It specify that non-custodial sentences are preferable for pregnant women and those with dependent children, but the law and sentencing guidance are inconsistently applied. Remember the breast-feeding mother remanded.

GLOBAL MAJORITY WOMEN & OTHER ETHNICITIES

In the Lammy Report (2017), it was interesting to see during his visits to Western prisons, that Black and Brown people were over-represented in these prisons. This included the USA (which may not surprise anyone)! It also included Australia and New Zealand. In Australia the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders make up 2% of the population but 27% of prisoners. At 30/06/21 the female prison population was 10%. (Australian Bureau of Statistics).

THIS IS REAL

This shows Institutional Racism on a global scale against people of colour, and the lack of implementations of recommendations to address this. We are the Global Majority.

EXAMPLES OF DISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT

For instance in the UK, Global Majority women are twice likely to be arrested, and likely to go to prison on conviction in a Crown Court, than white women. (Ministry of Justice 2016). Black women are more likely than white women at the Crown Court to be remanded in prison. In prison, Global Majority women are likely to be discriminated against on a religious basis. Furthermore, they feel unsafe compared to white women. (Prison Reform Trust 2017). Unsafe because Prison Officers were reported to often turn a blind eye when these women were being targeted.

TRAVELLERS, ROMA AND GYPSIES

Gypsy and Traveller women make up 6% of the ‘reported’ prison population but are actually less than 1% of the population. The recording in prison of this group is inconsistent, therefore is likely to be much higher. If you live in the UK you will be aware of the stereotypes around Gypsies and Travellers. Which makes it easier to imagine how likely stereotypes effect sentencing.

OVER-REPRESENTED

People may believe the over-representation is a result of an efficient system. They are generally ignorant and many racists, period! The factors behind why many women are imprisoned are not important to them. The motto ‘see no evil, hear no evil’ usually comes to my mind.

THE CYCLE CONTINUES

Ignorance of the factors affecting the children of imprisoned mothers. Only 9% of children are looked after by their fathers, but when father’s are imprisoned three-quarters live with their mothers. (Howard League For Penal Reform).

Research indicates that children who have experienced maternal imprisonment are at greater risk of unemployment, drug use, alcoholism and coming into contact themselves with the criminal justice system in later life.

SOLUTIONS

I really don’t need to propose solutions here because the reports have all made the necessary recommendations. Despite this, some believe, if the ethnic groups think, they would be treated fairly compared to whites; their belief mean no discrimination! (The Spectator, 08/09/17) Please!

A MESSAGE TO GLOBAL MAJORITY WOMEN

If you live in the West please don’t be complacent with your rights, with your jobs with where you live. This complacency makes you believe that you will be treated equally to Whites within the Criminal Justice System. My message is MOST WON’T.

CONCLUSION

All I would say here is there should be no more reports until all or the majority of the recommendations are implemented. If there’s money to throw at report writers then spend it on making a significant CHANGE.

Take care of yourself,

Akilah