When I set out 7 years ago to try to change the way mothers were sentenced, I thought there were two big barriers to achieving change. One was judicial thinking (which I decided to make the focus of my work), and the other was public perception. Our criminal justice system is in desperate need of financial investment and political will to bring real change. Secret … Continue reading Changing the Conversation
At the Joint Committee on Human Rights meeting on 13thMarch 2019, Edward Argar MP, Under Secretary at the Ministry of Justice with responsibility for women in the criminal justice system, and Nadhim Zahawi MP, Under Secretary at the Department of Education, with responsibility for Children and Families, attended. They were present to respond to questions from the Committee in the final oral evidence hearing for … Continue reading Human rights and children of prisoners
Last week the Sentencing Council published for consultation their plans to provide expanded explanations in offence specific guidelines in England and Wales. Lord Justice Holroyde, the Council’s Chair, mentioned it during the oral evidence session of the Joint Committee on Human Rights Inquiry into the right to family life for children whose mothers are sentenced to imprisonment, as it includes an expanded explanation of the … Continue reading Do we need another Guideline?
I am disappointed that despite the extensive research evidence available on these issues, the Government still do not have a clear vision and strategy for supporting these children. Continue reading What action is being taken to support the children of prisoners?
‘Are we doing all we can to support the wellbeing of children with a parent in prison, bearing in mind the traumatic impact that the detention of a parent can have on a child? It is estimated that more than 200,000 children a year are separated from a parent by parental imprisonment. About 17,000 of those children experience their mother’s imprisonment. Because women are more … Continue reading The Care of Prisoners’ Children: a response to the Westminster Hall Debate 12th June 2018
