Source: Ministry of Justice published on this website Tuesday 17 March 2029 by Jill Powell
New government investment will enable women’s centres and charities across the country to deliver vital specialist help to female offenders, the overwhelming majority of whom are themselves victims of crime.
The multi‑year package represents a 50 per cent increase in funding to help women get clean, find work and accommodation, and move away from abusive relationships.
This support is key to cutting crime with evidence showing how more than two‑thirds of women in custody report being victims of domestic abuse, a factor which is a known indicator of crimes.
Further statistics show how more than half of female offenders have sustained brain injuries while roughly the same percentage have drug addictions.
Tackling these underlying issues and addressing the root causes of crime helps to prevent more victims and reduce the £18 billion overall cost of reoffending to the taxpayer.
The report also recommends greater use of Intensive Supervision Courts which the Government has committed to expanding — including a new site for female offenders in Liverpool, due to open later this year.
These crime‑cutting courts support offenders who have committed low‑level crimes and are also dealing with issues such as addiction or trauma.
They require participants to attend appropriate treatment and appear regularly before the same judge, who closely monitors their progress. Those who fail to comply face tough consequences, including time in prison.
Countries using this model have been shown to experience arrests for further offences drop by a third compared to offenders on a standard prison sentence.
As the Government looks to support the next phase of work to divert women from custody, the Women’s Justice Board will transition into a Women’s Justice Advisory Group, offering independent expertise as reforms develop.
