Counting the Cost: the Social and Financial Consequences of Women's Imprisonment

Prepared for the Committee on Women's Imprisonment by economist Toby Wolfe, this report looks at the social and financial consequences of imprisoning an ever-increasing number of  women.

2000 Download PDF

Justice for Women: the Need for Reform

This groundbreaking report presents the findings of  the Committee on Women's Imprisonment, chaired by Professor Dorothy Wedderburn, set up in 1998, and commissioned by PRT amid concern about the rapid increase in the number of women prisoners. Justice for Women makes radical recommendations for the reform of the criminal justice system with regard to women.

2000 ISBN: 0 946209 48 0 Download PDF

Lacking Conviction: The Rise of the Women's Remand Population
Kimmett Edgar

In 10 years the number of  women in prison has risen sharply from an average daily population of 1,811 to over 4,500 today. Remand numbers have grown at the fastest rate. 'Lacking Conviction' reveals a widespread misuse of custody and examines its impact on some of the most vulnerable women in society. The report sets out a sensible agenda for changes in policy and practice within and outside the criminal justice system.

2004 ISBN: 0 94620969 3 Download PDF

Public Say: Stop Locking Up So Many Women                                      Sinead Hanks

A briefing paper on a Smartjustice survey.

2007 Download PDF

Troubled Inside: Responding to the Mental Health Needs of Women       in Prison  Dora Rickford

This report reveals the extent of the mental health needs of women in prison. It exposes the gap between improved policy and still bleak practice. It offers a set of detailed recommendations and a ten point action plan which, if implemented, would ensure that the needs of mentally ill women inside the prison system are met.

2003 ISBN: 0 946209 64 2 Download PDF

Unlocking Value: How We All Benefit from Investing in Alternatives to Prison for Women Offenders The New Economics Foundation

This report from nef (the new economics foundation) highlights how a criminal justice system focused on short–term cost control and narrow re–offending targets is letting women offenders down and costing more in the longer term. Using Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis, nef has examined the costs and long–term benefits associated with the work of two centres providing an alternative to prison in Glasgow and Worcester.

2008 ISBN: 978 1 904882 411 Download PDF