Tonight I will be at Friends House for the Prison
Reform Trust’s annual lecture, given by Dame Elish Angiolini. Dame Elish
will be speaking on the topic of ‘Reforming Women’s Justice’, and brings a
wealth of experience on the topic, most recently gained as the Chair of the
Commission on Women’s Offenders in Scotland, which advocated significant
overhaul to the system. Following the publication of the Commission’s findings,
and indications from the Scottish Executive that they accept the majority of
the recommendations, tonight’s lecture will focus on some of the challenges and
opportunities for reform that lie ahead.
The lecture comes at a time when the PRT has published polling that shows significant public
support for health measures, such as better mental health care and treatment
for drug addiction and alcohol misuse, to cut female offending rates. The high
number of women in prison, is something that has really struck a chord with
members throughout the WI’s Care not Custody campaign.
All too often women’s offending is linked to
underlying mental health problems as well as drug and alcohol abuse. Many
women prisoners have been victims of serious crime and sustained abuse.
Over a course of years evidence has built up showing the financial and social
cost of imprisoning too many women for non-violent offences. Progress in
this area has been too slow for too long.
Tonight’s lecture promises to make a valuable
contribution to an important subject. You can watch the lecture live from 7pm
on the PRT website: www.prisonreformtrust.org
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