Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood Outlines Plan to Close Women’s Prisons, Citing Generational Harm and Ineffective Punishment

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed her 'ultimate ambition' to shut down women's prisons during the Labour Party conference, stating that such a move could "stop the cycle of damage that transfers across generations."

Political correspondent @NifS

Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at 5

The secretary of justice has expressed a desire to decrease the quantity of women's penitentiaries, stating that they contribute to pushing women towards criminal activities.

During her speech at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool on Tuesday, Shabana Mahmood expressed concerns about the efficacy of the prison system for women, labeling these facilities as "desperate places" that cause harm to mothers and disrupt family units.

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The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) plans to establish a new board focused on women's justice. This board will be overseen by a minister and will aim to decrease the female prison population, with the long-term goal of reducing the number of women's prisons.

The strategy is set to be released in the upcoming spring, initially concentrating on steering women away from the criminal justice system when suitable and enhancing community support as a substitute for incarceration.

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Referring to a 2007 analysis conducted during the Labour government regarding women in the criminal justice system, Ms. Mahmood commented, "The findings were evident back then and remain so today: altering our approach to women in incarceration can reduce crime, maintain family unity, and prevent damage that otherwise transfers across generations."

Currently, the number of incarcerated women in England and Wales stands at approximately 3,440, an increase from the 2021 average of 3,183, with about two-thirds of these women convicted for non-violent offenses.

Over half of the inmates have experienced domestic violence, and the rate of self-harm among them is eight times greater than that in male prisons.

The Ministry of Justice stated that individuals who serve shorter prison terms are substantially more likely to commit crimes again than those who have not been incarcerated.

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In her address, Ms. Mahmood reiterated Labour’s commitment to “tilt the balance of justice” in favor of women, including a proposal to guarantee that victims of rape receive support from an independent legal advocate.

The administration is optimistic that next year's implementation will reduce the current 60% rate of survivors withdrawing from rape cases before they reach trial.

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