Report: Transforming Lives: Reducing Women’s Imprisonment

The Prison Reform Trust and Soroptimist International recently produced a report containing a distillation of the wealth of information on the state of women’s justice that Soroptimists have gathered since the launch of the Reducing Women’s Imprisonment Action Pack in 2013. It presents a mixed picture, profiling some excellent local practice whilst highlighting a lack of consistency and a dearth of services in many parts of the UK that would enable women to address the causes of their offending and get out of trouble. It is invaluable in mapping some critical gaps in service provision for vulnerable women, and in identifying disconnects between policy and practice.

This report highlights Stepping Stones Luton and is based on information gathered by Soroptimist clubs and UKPAC regional representatives across the UK. It was compiled by Katy Swaine Williams and edited by Rebecca Nadin and Jenny Earle. You can download the full report here.

Soroptimist International (SI) is the only women’s service organisation with general consultative status at the United Nations. Soroptimists inspire action and create opportunities to transform the lives of women and girls through their programmes and voluntary work. Members are women of all ages, cultures and ethnic groups, who join their local clubs to give service to women and girls. Each club identifies the needs of its community, then establishes specific projects to address those needs. Clubs are grouped into Regions within the UK. The UK Programme Action Committee (UKPAC) provides help and guidance on project work to Soroptimist clubs in the UK.

The work of the Prison Reform Trust is aimed at creating a just, humane and effective penal system. They do this by inquiring into the workings of the system; informing prisoners, staff and the wider public; and by influencing Parliament, government, and officials towards reform. The Prison Reform Trust’s three year programme (2012-2015) to reduce women’s imprisonment in the
UK is supported by the Pilgrim Trust: www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/women