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Why are vulnerable women still being jailed? Why are vulnerable women still being jailed?
(4 months later)
Melanie Beswick was 34 when she hanged herself in Surrey's Send prison in 2010. Her inquest was held last month.Melanie Beswick was 34 when she hanged herself in Surrey's Send prison in 2010. Her inquest was held last month.
Married and working part-time as a financial assistant at Citizens Advice in Portsmouth, she had been left in debt over a slimming franchise. Over several months, she embezzled £19,000 from her employers. It was her first offence and she received a nine-month sentence. The judge said at the time: "This woman is a suicide risk and she is to be watched carefully."Married and working part-time as a financial assistant at Citizens Advice in Portsmouth, she had been left in debt over a slimming franchise. Over several months, she embezzled £19,000 from her employers. It was her first offence and she received a nine-month sentence. The judge said at the time: "This woman is a suicide risk and she is to be watched carefully."
Melanie's death is one of 100 women's deaths in custody over the past decade. Her case will be highlighted in a report published on Monday by the charity Inquest, a free advice service for bereaved people after contentious deaths. Thirty-eight deaths have occurred since Baroness Jean Corston's ground-breaking review of vulnerable women in the prison system in 2007. Her proposals received cross-party support. They included the closure of 14 women's prisons in England by 2017 to be replaced with small custodial units closer to the prisoners' homes, intensive community punishments and preventive support for women leading highly chaotic lives to prevent them from entering prison in the first place, which often results in losing children into care.Melanie's death is one of 100 women's deaths in custody over the past decade. Her case will be highlighted in a report published on Monday by the charity Inquest, a free advice service for bereaved people after contentious deaths. Thirty-eight deaths have occurred since Baroness Jean Corston's ground-breaking review of vulnerable women in the prison system in 2007. Her proposals received cross-party support. They included the closure of 14 women's prisons in England by 2017 to be replaced with small custodial units closer to the prisoners' homes, intensive community punishments and preventive support for women leading highly chaotic lives to prevent them from entering prison in the first place, which often results in losing children into care.
"The criminal justice system continues to sentence vulnerable women to custody in unsafe institutions that are ill-equipped and under-resourced to deal with their complex needs," says Deborah Coles, co-director of Inquest. "Fundamental questions need to be addressed: why are demonstrably vulnerable women still being sent to prison? And why has the government not built on the Corston review?""The criminal justice system continues to sentence vulnerable women to custody in unsafe institutions that are ill-equipped and under-resourced to deal with their complex needs," says Deborah Coles, co-director of Inquest. "Fundamental questions need to be addressed: why are demonstrably vulnerable women still being sent to prison? And why has the government not built on the Corston review?"
The reconviction rate for women is 58% and women in prison usually serve six months or less, convicted of non-violent crimes such as theft and handling stolen goods. Around 17,000 children a year are affected by mothers going to prison. Under the United Nations' Bangkok rules and the Human Rights Act, the courts should weigh the seriousness of a woman's crime with the fact that she has dependant children. This rarely happens.The reconviction rate for women is 58% and women in prison usually serve six months or less, convicted of non-violent crimes such as theft and handling stolen goods. Around 17,000 children a year are affected by mothers going to prison. Under the United Nations' Bangkok rules and the Human Rights Act, the courts should weigh the seriousness of a woman's crime with the fact that she has dependant children. This rarely happens.
Up to 80% of women in prison suffer from one or more mental health disorders linked to childhood abuse, homelessness, domestic violence and drug dependency. Self-harming is rife. As the judge acknowledged, Melanie Beswick was fragile but was still sent to a woefully inadequate prison. Poor conditions included lack of staff training, bullying, long hours of lock-up for suicidal women, punitive management of self-harming, systemic neglect of women's physical and mental health, and unsafe cells.Up to 80% of women in prison suffer from one or more mental health disorders linked to childhood abuse, homelessness, domestic violence and drug dependency. Self-harming is rife. As the judge acknowledged, Melanie Beswick was fragile but was still sent to a woefully inadequate prison. Poor conditions included lack of staff training, bullying, long hours of lock-up for suicidal women, punitive management of self-harming, systemic neglect of women's physical and mental health, and unsafe cells.
Justice minister Helen Grant says she intends to divert more women from prison into "robust" and cheaper alternatives in the community. While her commitment has been welcomed, inadequate funding and the widespread lack of community alternatives, plus the privatisation of much of probation and changes to legal aid and rehabilitation, may mean more not fewer women going to prison at a huge cost to the public purse. Rachel Halford, director of the charity Women in Prison, said: "The action on the ground doesn't match Helen Grant's words. At the same time, the Ministry of Justice is no longer involved in work with women at risk of offending. That's alarming."Justice minister Helen Grant says she intends to divert more women from prison into "robust" and cheaper alternatives in the community. While her commitment has been welcomed, inadequate funding and the widespread lack of community alternatives, plus the privatisation of much of probation and changes to legal aid and rehabilitation, may mean more not fewer women going to prison at a huge cost to the public purse. Rachel Halford, director of the charity Women in Prison, said: "The action on the ground doesn't match Helen Grant's words. At the same time, the Ministry of Justice is no longer involved in work with women at risk of offending. That's alarming."
A further concern is that a review of the female penal establishment, due in the summer, may propose smaller units attached to men's prisons to bring women — often in prisons up to 100 miles away — closer to home. Baroness Corston describes this proposal as "a disaster". "The culture of a men's prison is very different," she said. "This 'add on' approach is setting back progress by 10 years.A further concern is that a review of the female penal establishment, due in the summer, may propose smaller units attached to men's prisons to bring women — often in prisons up to 100 miles away — closer to home. Baroness Corston describes this proposal as "a disaster". "The culture of a men's prison is very different," she said. "This 'add on' approach is setting back progress by 10 years.
"In New York, strong community support and early intervention mean women have a chance of turning their lives around. Prisons are emptying and crime is falling. Here, that whole strategy is at risk. Why redesign services that are shown to work?""In New York, strong community support and early intervention mean women have a chance of turning their lives around. Prisons are emptying and crime is falling. Here, that whole strategy is at risk. Why redesign services that are shown to work?"
Andrew Neilson of the Howard League for Penal Reform says under the government's Transforming Rehabilitation agenda, a woman who has served a two-week prison sentence will now be on supervision for a further 12 months. Any breach of that supervision could mean a return to jail, swelling rather than reducing the prison population.Andrew Neilson of the Howard League for Penal Reform says under the government's Transforming Rehabilitation agenda, a woman who has served a two-week prison sentence will now be on supervision for a further 12 months. Any breach of that supervision could mean a return to jail, swelling rather than reducing the prison population.
The Prison Governors Association says 80% of imprisoned women could safely serve their time in the community. In Melanie's case, she was ordered on release to repay the money in six months or return to prison. She went back to prison rather than make her family homeless by selling their house for the necessary funds.The Prison Governors Association says 80% of imprisoned women could safely serve their time in the community. In Melanie's case, she was ordered on release to repay the money in six months or return to prison. She went back to prison rather than make her family homeless by selling their house for the necessary funds.
The jury at her inquest found that failures in communication between the prison and the hospital, and internally in the prison, contributed to her death.The jury at her inquest found that failures in communication between the prison and the hospital, and internally in the prison, contributed to her death.
Speaking from her home, Melanie's mother Margery Davies fights off the tears. "She was a devout Catholic. She'd never been in trouble before. Nobody knows where the money went. If she had been punished in the community, she would have worked hard to pay it all back over time and the girls would still have their mum."Speaking from her home, Melanie's mother Margery Davies fights off the tears. "She was a devout Catholic. She'd never been in trouble before. Nobody knows where the money went. If she had been punished in the community, she would have worked hard to pay it all back over time and the girls would still have their mum."
Mrs Davies shows Melanie's notebook of religious quotations she kept in jail. In it she wrote: "I am not what I have done … but what I can do."Mrs Davies shows Melanie's notebook of religious quotations she kept in jail. In it she wrote: "I am not what I have done … but what I can do."
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