Overflowing prisons tragically lead to soaring instances of sexual assault and self-harm among female inmates
In recent years, the number of sexual assaults in women's prisons has nearly doubled, and self-harm incidents have reached almost 20,000 last year, marking a 6% increase in women’s prisons over 12 months. This alarming trend has sparked a call for urgent action and reform.
The majority of women who are being incarcerated have committed non-violent crimes, with around 72% falling into this category in 2020. The government, prisons, and advocacy groups are taking steps to address this crisis.
One such measure is the trial of Tasers for specialist officers, aimed at reducing violence against prison officers and enhancing overall safety. Additionally, the government has mandated protective body armour for prison officers working with the most dangerous offenders. These security enhancements are designed to improve control in violent situations.
Prison reform recommendations, including letting some offenders serve a smaller fraction of their sentence in custody, have been accepted by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood. This move is expected to reduce overcrowding and ease pressure on prisons, indirectly addressing violence and self-harm issues.
The government has also pledged to create 14,000 new prison places by 2031 to alleviate overcrowding and associated safety problems. Moreover, a £900,000 funding boost has been announced to tackle drones delivering drugs and weapons into prisons, a significant contributor to violence and instability.
Advocacy groups, such as the Prison Reform Trust, emphasize the need to reduce the number of women on remand and those receiving short sentences. Many of these women have low or medium risk and suffer multiple unmet needs, including mental health issues. They call for bold and creative thinking combined with sustained strategy implementation to address systemic issues exacerbating the crisis in women’s prisons.
Policy developments over the past two decades recognize women’s distinct needs in the criminal justice system, calling for fewer imprisonments and better treatment alternatives. However, the number of women in prison remains stubbornly high.
Research suggests that the criminal justice system fails to address the problems that led women to come into contact with the police in the first place. Pavan Dhaliwal, chief executive of criminal justice charity Revolving Doors, stated that prisons are failing to rehabilitate or provide women with the support they need. He suggests that addressing these issues starts outside of prison with targeted support and long-term efforts to divert women away from the justice system.
It's crucial to note that entering the criminal justice system often makes things worse for jailed women, as it can lead to the loss of jobs or homes. Comprising the right to live safely for some undermines all social justice efforts to demand it for others.
Despite these measures, the crisis continues to escalate. In 2023, 54 sexual assaults were reported in women's prisons, up from 27 in 2022. The overall number of assaults in the female prison estate has almost tripled between 2010 and 2023.
Many women in the criminal justice system have dealt with childhood trauma, mental health problems, or homelessness. Society seems to believe that individuals who commit crimes deserve to be punished harshly, and their rights are forfeited as a result of their actions, which is an incredibly dangerous narrative.
Independent reviews have warned of the prison system being close to collapse due to capacity and management problems, underscoring the urgency of reform and the need for fundamental changes in approach. The UK is addressing this crisis through a mix of security enhancements, prison population management reforms, prison capacity expansion, and advocacy for systemic changes tailored to women’s specific needs. However, significant challenges remain as incidents of self-harm and violence continue to increase.
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