Justice Select Committee Says Lack of Time and Money Prevent Probation from Effectively Supporting Women – Women in Prison
The Justice Select Committee report on the Role of the Probation Service highlights the main issues causing probation’s inability to effectively support and monitor women.
Women are a minority
Women are just 14% of the probation caseload. The Committee notes that “interventions, for example, accredited programmes, have been developed to meet the needs of the majority: young, white, men.”
Women are a low priority because they are not high risk
The Committee states: The probation service’s approach—where resources tend to be directed towards dealing with offenders who present the highest degree of risk—can fail adequately to support women offenders.
Lack of sentencing disposals specifically for women
Women in Prison gave evidence to the Committee that whilst there is a specific programme for women this is only available to a handful of women (less than 1% of women on the probation caseload) in just 4 of the 35 probation areas. The Committee states:
It is unacceptable that sentencers’ hands are tied by the unavailability of important requirements which the probation service cannot provide because of inadequate resources.
Lack of face-to-face time
The Committee were shocked to learn that probation staff spend just 25% of their time with the people on their caseload. The lack of time to develop individualised relationships and support plans with the women that they work with contributes to women feeling that probation is pointless. The women we work with tell us time and again that their probation officers have no time to spend with them and are not able to offer advice or information specific to their circumstances.
The report does not pick up the evidence that Women in Prison gave on the intimidation women experience at probation offices. Many women report that they feel unsafe attending probation offices and this is a particular concern if they have their children with them.
The Committee concludes its observations on the probation service’s approach to women:
The approach recommended by Baroness Corston for the provision of holistic services that address all women’s needs is still a long way from being realised, even through this would greatly increase the effectiveness of probation work in diverting women from further offending. Rather than requiring extra resources, it would save public money by reducing the prison population and its associated heavy social costs.
The Committee is also concerned that the needs of minority groups will need specific protection in the design of payment-by-results commissioning:
Also, the Government should ensure that it considers the needs of minority groups when moving towards payment-by-results: contractual arrangements will need to ensure that appropriate services are provided for all offenders, and not just those who fall into the most common demographic.
Read the full Enquiry report which you can download from http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/justice-committee/news/probation-report/
