Transforming Rehabilitation for Women: A View From the Courts

AuthorGemma Birkett
Pages149-152
149
THOUGHT PIECE
'Thought Pieces' are papers which draw on the author's personal knowledge and
experience to offer stimulating and thought provoking ideas relevant to the aims of the
Journal. The ideas are located in an academic, research, and/or practice context and all
papers are peer reviewed. Responses to them should be submitted to the Journal in the
normal way.
‘TRANSFORMING REHABILITATION’ FOR WOMEN? A
VIEW FROM THE COURTS
Gemma Birkett, Centre for Law, Justice and Journalism, City University London, in
conversation with Val Castell JP, Magistrates' Association21 lead on Women Offenders
Coming into force next year, t he Coalition government’s Transforming Rehabilitation
agenda will (amongst other things) ext end supervision to offenders rel eased from short-
term sentences and open up probation services to new private providers. As seventy per
cent of women sentenced to c ustody receive sentences of less than twelve months (S eal
and Phoenix 2013: 168; see also Cabinet Office 2009; Gelsthorpe and Sharpe 2009), four
out of every five of short senten ces for women are passed by mag istrates (Hedderman
2012: 5). Why women offenders are mo re likely than men to receive imm ediate custody
from magistrates stimulates widespread debate in both academia and practice (see for
example Corston 2007; Hedderman 2012; Hunter an d Radcliffe 2013; Howard League
2013a). There is also increasing concern that the introduction of a “criminal justice
market” (Gelsthorpe and Hedderman 2012: 3 75) will bring more risks than benefits to
existing provision (ibid; see also Prison Reform Tru st 2013; Women in Prison 2013;
Howard League 2013b). As part of this on-going conversation, it is important to seek the
viewpoints of those who are best placed to answer. In this extremely timely and policy-
relevant issue of the British Journal of Community Justice, it is crucial, therefore, to have a
view from the courts.
21 The Magistrates’ Association represents over 80% of m agistrates and is the only independent
organisation in England and Wales advocating on behalf of the ma gistracy. It is fully governed and
funded by its members.
British Journal of Community Justice
©2013 Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield
ISSN 1475-0279
Vol. 11(2-3): 149-152

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