29th October 2010
The Strategy to Manage Women Offenders and those Vulnerable to Offending Behaviour is designed to address the root problems behind women offending. It is intended to "reshape the justice system" to better cater to different needs of male and female offenders. By providing support and interventions for women it is hoped that the number imprisoned or re-offending can be cut.
At 3% of the prison population the number of female offenders in Northern Ireland is disproportionately small compared to the rest of the UK and most of Western Europe. Due to the small number of women in custody, the prison system in Northern Ireland is designed mainly with men in mind and the strategy notes that women prisoners suffer much more hardship than men as a result. The strategy also states that women are much more likely than men to be primary care givers to children and its recommendations have been drawn up with this in mind.
Justice Minister David Ford said: "If we are serious about reducing crime and making our communities safer, then we must be imaginative in how we reduce offending. This strategy, which is supported by the statutory, community and voluntary sectors, will deliver help for women offenders and those at risk of offending." Mr Ford also added that to reduce offending, the justice system needed to find ways to tackle the causes of crime in the community rather than through the penal system.
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Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.