Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Support for Women Leaving Prison — [Sir Charles Walker in the Chair]

09 March 2021 · 5 other contributors · 9,204 words

Opened by Carolyn Harris Lab Neath and Swansea East

Responding minister: Kit Malthouse

Justice & CourtsWomen & Equalities

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Carolyn Harris raised concerns about support for women leaving prison — [sir charles walker in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Nearly 60% of women in contact with the criminal justice system are survivors of domestic violence.
  • Over half of women leaving prison report having received emotional, physical, or sexual abuse during childhood.
  • The Minister reaffirmed the Government's commitment to the female offenders strategy and announced a new 70 million investment programme for temporary housing for prison leavers.

Key requests to Government

The Minister should look again at the Government's commitments in the female offender strategy and consider making new commitments that address vulnerability and follow evidence on what works in supporting rehabilitation. This could include an uplift in the prison discharge grant, a pledge to reconsider additional prison places given women's centres provide better outcomes, extending dedicated support across the whole female justice estate for accommodation before release, and providing guaranteed accommodation for all at risk of homelessness.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Carolyn Harris Lab Neath and Swansea East

Nearly 60% of women in contact with the criminal justice system are survivors of domestic violence, and more than half report having received emotional, physical or sexual abuse during childhood. These figures, likely underestimates, highlight how past trauma leads to crime, conviction and imprisonment. The Ministry of Justice's announcement of £150 million for 500 new prison places for women, while cutting co-funding for women's centres that reduce offending, is concerning. Over half of all women leaving prison have nowhere safe to go, receiving only a £46 discharge grant and facing threats of recall if they miss probation appointments.

Other contributors (5)
  • Bambos Charalambous Lab Southgate and Wood Green

    Mr Charalambous highlighted the importance of supporting specialist services, such as women's centres, for reducing reoffending rates. He mentioned that 48% of women are reconvicted within a year of leaving prison, rising to 61% for sentences under 12 months. Concerned about housing issues and domestic abuse victims' inability to return to their homes, he welcomed the £70 million pilot scheme but called for its wider implementation.

  • Ellie Reeves Lab Lewisham West and East Dulwich

    She highlighted that up to 70% of women in prison are survivors of domestic abuse, and almost half leave without settled accommodation. She noted that the Ministry of Justice's £70 million funding for temporary accommodation is limited and insufficient. Reeves questioned why the Government invests heavily in prisons rather than community-based solutions and recommended a review on short sentences for female offenders.

  • Jackie Doyle-Price Con Thurrock

    The speaker emphasized the importance of supporting vulnerable women in prison who are victims of abuse and trauma, advocating for community-based solutions over incarceration. She highlighted that expanding prison capacity contradicts recent moves towards rehabilitation and questioned the government's emphasis on increased custodial sentences despite a decrease in female prisoner numbers.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Jim Shannon thanked the hon. Member for Swansea East and praised her initiative in highlighting issues faced by women leaving prison. He commended Safe Homes for Women Leaving Prisons, emphasizing the importance of follow-on help such as housing and mental health support after release. He expressed concern over the 65% figure representing prisoners released with no fixed abode and the risk this poses to rehabilitation and reoffending rates. The Minister is setting out clearly some of the good things that can be done. He mentioned social skills as important for people leaving prison to interact confidently with others.

  • Lyn Brown Lab West Ham

    Ms Lyn Brown expressed concerns about the lack of accommodation and continuity of care for women leaving prison. She highlighted that up to 60% of women released from prison are homeless, which significantly hampers their ability to reintegrate into society. Ms Brown also questioned the Government's focus on expanding prisons rather than funding effective support systems such as women's centres, citing a study showing a £2.80 return for every £1 invested in these centers.

Government Response

Kit Malthouse

The Minister reaffirmed the Government's commitment to fully delivering the female offenders strategy, highlighting efforts to reduce reoffending rates and improve conditions for women in custody. He outlined plans for accommodation support for prison leavers, including a new £70 million investment programme providing up to 12 weeks of temporary housing. Additionally, he mentioned initiatives like the New Futures Network's employment broker program and Sodexo's SheWorks skills-building programme aimed at improving job opportunities for women leaving prison.

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