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Women in t he Criminal Justice System

Women in t he Criminal Justice System. INSPIRE Sophie Gibson 21 st May 2014. The Inspire Partnership - Brighton. Inspire Partnership Pan Sussex. Inspire client profile. Vulnerable women with multiple complex needs Present with needs in at least two of the nine pathways

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Women in t he Criminal Justice System

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  1. Women in the Criminal Justice System INSPIRE Sophie Gibson 21st May 2014

  2. The Inspire Partnership - Brighton

  3. Inspire Partnership Pan Sussex

  4. Inspire client profile • Vulnerable women with multiple complex needs • Present with needs in at least two of the nine pathways • Between 66% and 75% of clients experience domestic violence • 73% suffer from anxiety, depression and isolation • 62% lacked skills in education, training and employment

  5. Nine pathway needs • Accommodation • Education, training and employment • Drugs and alcohol • Health • Finance, benefit and debt • Children and families • Attitudes, thinking and behaviour • Supporting women who have been abused, raped and /or experiencing DV • Supporting women who have been/ are involved in sex working

  6. Women in Criminal JusticeEngagement with Inspire • Early diversion – from Police Custody/court • Alternative to Custody – Specified Activity Requirement individual and group programmes • In-reach • Through The Gate (TTG) post prison support

  7. Early Diversion • Voluntary engagement • PCLDS– multi agency scheme with Police, Probation, Health and voluntary sector • Need for gender responsive approach • Dedicated Liaison and Diversion Inspire case-worker • Inspire Liaison coordinator

  8. Community Orders • 60% of case load • Usually 3, 10 or 20 sessions • With or without probation supervision • A mix of 1:1 and group work • Close links with Offender Manager (OM) in Probation

  9. In-reach • Designated case-worker • Monthly visits to HMP Bronzefield • Identifies needs pre-release • Accommodation – between 70-80% women have need

  10. Through The Gate (TTG) • Women sentenced to less than 12 months in custody • No statutory probation supervision – due to change • Challenges of limited accommodation and benefit delays • First 48 hours post release are crucial • Lack of clothing and basic needs

  11. Strategic Aims • To reduce re-offending • To reduce the number of women in custody • To reduce inter-generational crime

  12. The Inspire Journey • Evidence based approach of ‘what works’ • Holistic and integrated model • Low self-esteem and vulnerability • Importance of being listened to • Wrap-around case work support • Underpinned by relational therapeutic model of support and challenge that recognises impact of trauma • Emotional and practical support • Further disclosures as trust builds • Women only safe space

  13. Partnership working • Co-located workers with specialist knowledge. • Clients access specialist support on site • Sharing specialist knowledge within the Inspire team • Strategic specialist input and support • Clients fast-tracked to other services partners provide • Clarity of roles between Inspire and Probation reinforces boundaries

  14. Reducing the number of women in custody and reducing intergenerational crime • Magistrate awareness • Disproportionate impact on family when mother imprisoned • Children and Families Pathway • Hidden sentence training

  15. Inspire achievements 2013/14 • 147 women were referred to Inspire • 79% successfully completed their orders • Six of nine pathways exceeded targets • Inspire mentoring service launched to ‘bridge’ access to other services • Initiated open access drop-in to offer additional support • Inspire rolled to five additional hubs in E and W Sussex • Re-unite funding to support women be re-united with children post custody

  16. The Future - HOPES • Greater Service user participation and voice • Increase capacity to support women to access primary and sexual health services • Increase services delivering co-located surgeries specifically housing and ISVA support • Support young women offenders transitioning to adult services • More integrated work with children’s services

  17. The Future – CHALLENGES • Changing landscape with Transforming Rehabilitation • The need for gender responsive services • Greater understanding on the impact of domestic and sexual violence on women’s offending and breach rates. • Lack of women only supported accommodation

  18. ‘I have been around the system a lot and this is a much better option for women’. ‘Inspire is the best thing to have happened to me in years’ ‘Now I know I’m not worthless’

  19. References • The Corston Report (2007) • Inspire Social Return on Investment (SROI) with New Economics Foundation (nef) (2011) • Hedderman C, Gunby C & Shelton N (2011) What women want:The importance of qualitative approaches in evaluating work with women offenders. • Gelsthorpe L (2011)Working with women offenders in the community • Pollack S (2011) Gender responsive discourses • What Works to Reduce Reoffending: A Summary of the Evidence Justice Analytical Services Scottish Government 2011 • Women’s Community Services: A Wise Commission:nef (2012)

  20. Contact Information • Sophie Gibson • Inspire OperationalManager • Inspire, Brighton Women’s Centre • 01273 698036 Ext 3 • Email: sophiegibson@womenscentre.org.uk

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