The Rising Numbers of Women Recalled to Prison
"The number of women recalled to prison has more than doubled since the
introduction of government measures designed to support people on
release, according to a new report published by the Prison Reform Trust.
The report,
Broken Trust, reveals that over 1,700 women were recalled to prison in
England and Wales during the last year, and that reforms which were
intended to help are making things worse. Women are trapped in the
justice system rather than being enabled to rebuild their lives.
The study,
based on in-depth interviews conducted with 24 women, explores why
increasing numbers of women are being returned to custody, and what the
impact is on them and their families. It found that the threat of recall
for women serving prison sentences of under 12 months is contributing
to a breakdown in trust between them and the probation officers
responsible for their supervision in the community.
The extension
of mandatory post-custody supervision has disproportionately affected
women. Recall numbers for men have risen by 22% since the changes were
introduced, whilst for women they’ve grown by 131%.
Women are
overwhelmingly sent to prison for committing non-violent offences, and
as a result the vast majority are serving sentences of less than a year.
Last year, 72% of women who entered prison to serve a sentence, were
given a sentence of less than 12 months."
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