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Policy and Practice for Young Adult Women in the Criminal Justice System

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
AuthorRona Epstein
Pages53-66
53
British Journal of Community Justice
©2019 Manchester Metropolitan University
ISSN 1475-0279
Vol. 15(1) 53–66
POLICY AND PRACTICE FOR YOUNG ADULT WOMEN IN
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
Rona Epstein, Honorary Research Fellow, Coventry Law School
Abstract
Women offenders are a minority group within the criminal justice system, accounting for
15% of the current probation caseload and 5% of the prison population. Women offenders
differ significantly from their male counterparts and often exhibit more complex needs.
Many women offenders have a background of abuse, frequently report having been
victims of domestic violenc e and have had first-hand exp erience of the care system
(Minson et al., 2015). This article reports on research conducted by the Transition to
Adulthood Alliance (T2A) on y oung adult women in custody (Allen, 2016). The research
found that the needs of young adult women in custody have not be en fully analysed.
Unlike young adult men, there are no specific establishments for them. There ha s been a
focus on improving the system for young men, but little attention devoted to the needs of
young adult female offenders, although it is acknowledged that female offenders might
have different needs and risks. The T2A report analyses what refor ms may be needed and
also reports on existing good practice.
Keywords
Imprisonment; female offenders; young adult women in custody; sentencing

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