This month the Education Policy Institute have published a report in partnership with the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), the Prison Reform Trust and the Centre for Mental Health which explores the role of local authorities in preventing women’s offending.
The report: Leading change: the role of local authorities in supporting women with multiple needs outlines the particular needs of women offenders and those at risk of offending. It highlights, for example, that around half of women in the criminal justice system say that they have been a victim of physical, sexual and/or domestic abuse. The report also notes the inter-generational impact of women’s offending and women’s imprisonment, stating that over a quarter of women who offend have dependent children and almost two-thirds of women in prison have children under the age of 18.
Local authorities have a crucial leadership role, bringing local partners together to build more integrated and preventive support for women with multiple needs. The report identifies four main approaches that local authorities can adopt:
- Identifying women’s needs and building upon their strengths
- Providing, commissioning and convening services
- Leadership and partnership building
- Scrutinising and monitoring local services.
In a time of reduced budgets there is a renewed focus on achieving efficiencies in how public services are delivered while maintaining positive outcomes. Reducing the cost of women’s imprisonment to the state is an example of how this can be achieved. Every child who has to be looked after by the state because their mother is in prison costs local authorities an estimated £50,000 per year (Women Centred Working, 2016). Innovative local areas are already exploring new ways of providing services to women who offend which make better use of public expenditure. For example, building on women’s strengths and increasing their resilience can help them to take charge of their lives and reduce their need for support. Involving women in service design can help to ensure more efficient and effective provision.
This short report is a strategic guide for local authorities and their partners on how to ensure better support for women who offend, or those at risk of offending in their communities. It sets out the case for change and includes practical ideas on how to address the needs of vulnerable women. For example, the report recommends that local authorities could start by holding a round table seminar of local and regional partners and relevant stakeholders, including local women’s organisations, to seek to better understand the interface between women with multiple needs and the availability and appropriateness of local services and explore what some of the local solutions might be.
