Promises, promises: Can the Female Offender Strategy deliver?. (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Booth, Natalie; Masson, Isla; Baldwin, Lucy
• Is Part Of: Probation journal. Volume 65:Number 4(2018)
• Page Start: 429
• Page End: 438
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: female offender strategy -- women in the criminal justice system -- penal policy -- gender-specific -- female prisoners; Probation -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 364.6305
• DOI: 10.1177/0264550518808363
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-5505

Abstract

Following a number of postponements, the long awaited and much needed female offender strategy for England and Wales was finally published in June 2018. The strategy reflects the strong agreement across the sector of the need for a 'distinct' or 'gender-specific' approach to respond to the vulnerabilities of women in the Criminal Justice System (CJS). Despite this, the strategy lacks clarity and offers little assurance that the direction taken will result in actual change and positive reform. It is vital that the government's implementation of the female offender strategy provides and demonstrates a genuine commitment to appropriate provision for females in the CJS through ring-fenced permanent funding as well as top-down accountability.