bthechange CIC

RESETTING THE APPROACH TO WOMEN’S IMPRISONMENT
A case for change: evidence, barriers and solutions
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The Sentencing Act 2026 extends the fixed-term recall period to 56 days, which was welcomed by some stakeholders and prompted concern amongst others. While more time in prison may give probation staff additional time to assess risk and set appropriate licence conditions, it is unlikely to significantly impact
outcomes such as timely access to decent accommodation. Further, extended recall has the potential to increase prison numbers.
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Overuse of short sentences
Short sentences are still used despite evidence of their ineffectiveness. Decision-making across the system often seems to focus more on risk aversion than on what women actually need.
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Advisory group member
Short prison sentences of six months or less disrupt family relationships, housing, employment and access to community support without providing meaningful rehabilitation. They disproportionately impact women and are less effective at reducing reoffending compared with community sentences. Provision in the Sentencing Act 2026 to suspend sentences of 12 months or less, which came into effect from 23 March 2026 has the potential to reduce the number of women in prison and encourage greater use of community alternatives to custody – but there are implications:
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If more women are going to be managed in the community, this has significant staffing and resource implications for probation. We also need to develop more programmes specifically for women and increase funding for women’s centres.
-https://prisonreformtrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Resetting-the-approach-July.pdf
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Human Rights Campaign

PRISONS AND PROBATION OMBUDSMAN’S ANNUAL REPORT PUBLISHED THIS MONTH.
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The watchdog opened 84 investigations into self-inflicted deaths during 2025-26, alongside 235 deaths from natural causes.
The report said 11% of prisoners who took their own lives did so within the first 48 hours of entering the prison system through a reception prison.
The PPO received 5,226 complaints, including 5,022 from prisoners. Property remained the most common subject, accounting for 34% of completed complaint investigations, with more than half upheld.

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https://www.thejusticegap.com/a-prisoner-took-their-own-life-every-five-days-according-to-new-ombudsman-report/

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