The Bangkok Rules have been instrumental in advocating for the distinct needs of women in the justice system. Despite policy developments in England and Wales aimed at recognising these needs and promoting community-based, gender-specific approaches, there remains a disconnect between policy and practice.
Key policy developments include the Female Offender Strategy (2018) and Delivery Plan (2022/25), Pregnancy and Maternal Separation Policy Framework (2021), and National Women's Health and Social Care Review (2023). However, numbers of women in prison remain high with 3,537 women incarcerated as of October 2024.
The current landscape of women's imprisonment in England and Wales is characterised by short sentences for non-violent offences, high rates of mental ill-health, disrupted family connections, and resettlement challenges.
Possible solutions include early intervention and diversion, expanded community solutions, and whole system approaches. These involve increasing the use of out-of-court disposals, improving pre-sentence reports, increasing funding for women's centres, and developing coordinated multi-agency support.
Despite widespread agreement on the need for reform, implementation of these solutions has been slow and inconsistent. Political discourse, media narratives and immediate overcrowding crisis mean women are lost in a system primarily designed for men, where addressing problems of male imprisonment still dominate. The groundwork has been laid for a different approach, but the previous government has been slow to implement its strategy and progress this agenda. Now, moving beyond this status quo requires bold and creative solutions alongside sustained development and implementation of pre-existing good practice. Identifying solutions is a key aim of PRT’s women’s programme.

Resetting the Approach to Women’s Imprisonment in England and Wales: From Policy to Practice (PID101)

Speakers

Emily Evison