Revolving Door responds to the Female Offender Strategy Delivery Plan
In response to the Ministry of Justice’s Female Offender Strategy Delivery plan released today, Pavan Dhaliwal, Chief Executive at Revolving Doors commented:
“The publication of the Female Offender Strategy Delivery Plan, albeit long overdue, is a welcome step towards ensuring accountability and progress on the Government’s commitments. It is particularly encouraging to see the plan focus on prevention, resettlement and housing provision, which are some of the key areas where women coming into contact with the criminal justice system – or at risk thereof – have been consistently falling through the cracks. We are pleased that officials have taken on board feedback from our Women’s Forum, and hope MoJ will continue to involve women with lived experience as they move forward with its implementation.
But over 4 years on from the publication of the strategy and despite a commitment to reducing the number of women in prison on short sentences for non-violent offences, those women continue to make up around 70% of the female estate. The Government has not only fallen short of this commitment, but is also projecting an increase in the coming years. All of the evidence points to women’s needs being better served with well-funded, trauma-informed and personalised community interventions and, while it focuses on the right areas, the litmus test will be whether the plan translates into concrete actions and improved outcomes for women.”
