Think Tank Opposes Incarcerating Female Criminals to Relieve Prison Overcrowding
According to a new report by the think tank Policy Exchange, women offenders should be sent to residential centres in the community rather than prison to address a public safety time bomb. This approach would not only create more space for dangerous criminals, but also contribute to higher rehabilitation rates for female convicts.
The report, titled ‘Wicked and Redeemable,’ suggests that women are typically less likely to be prolific offenders and more likely to have committed non-violent crimes than men. Moreover, it reveals that many women who end up in custody have been victims of domestic violence and their offending is often linked to that abuse.
The report recommends that the Ministry of Justice should accelerate previous proposals to open residential centres for female offenders, run in partnership with a social enterprise rooted in the local community. This model, the report argues, could increase the capacity to deal with the most dangerous and prolific offenders.
The report also highlights how many prolific offenders are being spared jail time despite racking up numerous convictions, creating a public safety risk. It recommends that mandatory minimum two-year jail sentences should be imposed on adult hyper-prolific offenders, and that more power should be given to magistrates courts to deal with repeat offenders.
In response to the report, the Ministry of Justice emphasized that they have toughened up punishments for the worst offenders, including ending automatic halfway release for serious and violent criminals and ensuring stricter management in the community. The report comes just before the King’s Speech when the government announced plans for tougher sentences for serious criminals and measures to ensure offenders appear in the dock.
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