Criminal justice bodies need to do more to meet needs of female offenders in NI

By Q Radio News

There's calls for criminal justice organisations in Northern Ireland to improve how they respond to the specific needs of women and girls suspected or convicted of committing a criminal offence. 

The Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in the region has published a report which focused on how female offenders were treated by the police, prosecution, courts, prison, probation and youth services and how their offending was managed. 

In 2019, women accounted for one fifth of court convictions for theft but proportionately more were sent to prison than men.

Jacqui Durkan said inspectors found evidence of professionals within criminal justice organisations who demonstrated genuine understanding of the specific needs of women and girls and were working to help those in crisis, were developing and delivering women-only services and were supporting those in custody and on their release. 

However, with rising numbers of female offenders entering prison before the covid-19 pandemic, Ms Durkin said it was "imperative" criminal justice bodies do more to develop and deliver female focused interventions and outcomes that meet their specific needs. 

“Women and girls are also more likely to receive short prison sentences but their impact can be far reaching.  A short prison sentence for a mother can be life changing for her child.”

Ms Durkin added, “Gender awareness and responsiveness is not about applying a different standard to police actions, prosecution decisions or sentencing because the defendant is a woman or girl.

"Enforcing laws and bringing offenders to justice, as well as considering the impact of crime on victims, must prevail.

“The treatment of females by the criminal justice system must take account of the specific issues and sensitivities affecting women and girls to deliver outcomes that are equitable." 

Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in NI, Jacqui Durkan

During the inspection, inspectors spoke to women and girls to hear first hand about their experience. 

Ms Durkin said, "We learned criminal justice approaches could overlook specific vulnerabilities, the experiences that may contribute to a woman or girls’ journey into offending behaviour and that non-custodial sentences could be challenging to complete, if issues like childcare needs were not taken into account,” said Ms Durkin.

The report has put forward three strategic and five operational recommendations for improvement. 

“The new Department of Justice (DoJ) strategy under development to support and challenge women and girls in contact with the criminal justice system, offers a real opportunity to succeed where other strategies have not.

"It can’t be another strategy that just sits on the shelf,” said the Chief Inspector.

“It requires effective leadership, commitment from each of the partner organisations and adequate resources to deliver outcomes for women and girls that make a difference.  

"As part of this, we have recommended the operational recommendations included in this report should be actioned as part of the DoJ strategy and supporting action plan.”

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Naomi Long said the report would help the justice system build for the future. 

Justice Minister Naomi Long

Ms Long said, “We know that the impact of women and girls coming into contact with the justice system and entering custody is significant. It can have a long lasting ‘ripple’ effect not only on victims but on the women and girl’s themselves, their families, future generations and society as a whole.

“I very much welcome this first criminal justice wide thematic inspection report. The timeliness is significant as my officials are currently progressing work on a justice-wide strategy for women and girls in contact with the justice system."

Ms Durkin said Inspectors had also recommended the department, in partnership with the police prosecution, courts, prison, probation and youth justice services, should develop and deliver a framework to safeguard the best interests of children affected by parental involvement in the criminal justice system within the next nine months.