PRI to work with the Kenya Probation Service to pilot gender-sensitive approach to community service

PRI is delighted to have received a grant from the Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ) to work with the Kenya Probation Service to study and develop gender-sensitive community and probation orders in Kenya.

The UN Bangkok Rules, universal international standards adopted for women offenders in 2010, call for prioritisation of ‘gender-sensitive non-custodial measures’, recognising the history of victimisation of women offenders and their caretaking responsibilities including the harmful impact of imprisonment on children.

However, little research and good practice is available globally about how to respond to gender-specific backgrounds and how to design and implement gender-specific non-custodial measures.

Andrea Huber, PRI’s Policy Director says:

‘While non-custodial orders such as community service have a huge potential to help reduce women’s imprisonment, in most countries community service and probation orders have been designed with the majority male offender population in mind. The project by PRI and the Kenyan Probation Service therefore provides a unique opportunity to develop gender-sensitive approaches, which can be shared with other countries in the region and internationally.’

This project, funded by the Thailand Institute of Justice, will research the current practices and experiences of both magistrates and probation staff, and women who have previously served community service or probation orders themselves. The findings will be used to develop gender-sensitive offender assessment tools and guidelines on the design and implementation of community service and probation mindful of women’s needs, as well as relevant training material.

The research and outcomes will complement other work currently underway in Kenya by PRI, the Kenyan Probation Service and other actors.