Community sentence for women with mental health needs
(Rules 57–58, Chapter 1)
In Northamptonshire, England, a specific community service for women has been piloted that includes mental health treatment alongside holistic support through a ‘Women’s Centre’. Part of a national partnership between government authorities across justice and health, the Centre offers support on mental health, physical health, education, financial stability, relationships, employment and vocational training, and provides programmes to empower women to be more resilient.
The programme seeks to reduce reoffending by addressing the root causes of offending. It acknowledges that many people in conflict with the law have experienced years of trauma and abuse for which they have received little support and have poor experiences of health and wider social care issues; therefore, by addressing their mental health, substance use and associated social issues effectively through part of their community service, women in contact with the law are more likely to engage in treatment and not reoffend. Out of 75 women that received this community sentence in the first year of the programme (for either mental health, drug rehabilitation or alcohol dependence treatment) only four breached the order and returned to court.
As women in England tend to be given short-term prison sentences for minor offences, such community sentences also avoid the harm that prison sentences can have on women and their children.
For more information see:
Olivia Rope for PRI, ‘A community sentence for women with mental health needs’.
Supporting newly admitted women through a dedicated first night centre
(Rule 2, Chapter 3)
In some countries, ‘reception’ or ‘first night custody centres’ are used to reduce the distress experienced when entering prison. In London’s Holloway Women’s Prison (now closed), a dedicated first night centre was set up to house women coming into the prison for the first night. The women would receive more information and help from prison officers with special training, medical staff, members of a peer support scheme, and a national charity Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact).
The environment was designed to be as welcoming, personal, and non-institutional as possible. A study found that the centre reduced the distress of newly admitted women as it helped to meet their practical needs. For example, there were fewer difficulties and less frustration in making contact with family.
For more information see:
The Prison Advice and Care Trust, ‘First night and early days in custody’.
Jessica Jacobson and Kimmett Edgar with Nancy Louck, ‘There when you need them most: pact’s first night in custody services’, Prison Reform Trust.