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Women

Currently only one in five offences is committed by women, and females make up only 5.4% of the total prison population of England and Wales . The crimes women tend to commit are also considered less serious than those committed by men - in 2004 36% of sentenced women had committed a drugs offence.

Of women who are imprisoned, 55% have a child under age 16 and up to 80% of women have diagnosable mental health problems. Up to 50% of women in prison report having experienced physical, emotional or sexual abuse.

With the exception of domestic violence, women are less likely to be victims of violent crime than men. Despite this they are between two and three times more likely to be very worried about being mugged or physically attacked and five times more likely than men to be very worried about being raped.

The following links and resources will provide you with information regarding women and the criminal justice system.

External Links

• Women's Resource Centre
  Supports women's organisations to be more effective and sustainable by providing training, information, resources and one-to-one support.
  www.wrc.org.uk
  
  
• Women In London
  A directory of london based women's groups and news of their work and activities
  www.womeninlondon.org.uk
  
  
• AVA (Against Violence & Abuse)
  Formerly Greater London Domestic Violence Project (GLDVP). AVA is a national second tier service working to end all forms of violence against women and girls.
  www.avaproject.org.uk
  
  
• Women In Prison
  A charity working with women at risk of going to prison, in prison and after release to promote their resettlement, personal development, education and training.
  www.womeninprison.org.uk/
  
  
• Violence Against Women Initiative
  A Home Office programme launched in 1998 aimed at identifying the most effective ways of providing support to victims and tackling domestic violence, rape and sexual assault by known perpetrators.
  www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/
  
  
• Making Safer Places
  The Making Safer Places project is a three year pilot project run by the Women's Design Service, aiming to allow women to feel safe to go about their everyday lives without fear, in urban environments. The project was delivered in the cities of Manchester, Bristol and London.
  www.wds.org.uk/
  
  
• The Map of Gaps
  Map of Gaps is a unique campaign by the "Equality and Human Rights Commission" and the "End Violence Against Women" coalition which maps services for women who have experienced violence. These are vital services that help women name and recognise violence, flee to a place of safety, support them through the justice system (if they choose to report what’s happened), advocate on their behalf with other agencies and help them rebuild their lives.
  www.mapofgaps.org
  
  
• Eaves
  A London-based charity that provides high quality housing and support to vulnerable women. Eaves also carry out research, advocacy and campaigning to prevent all forms of violence against women.
  www.eaves4women.co.uk
  
  
• The Poppy Project
  Funded by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform (reporting to the Ministry of Justice) the Poppy Project provides accommodation and support to women who have been trafficked into prostitution. It has 35 bed spaces in houses throughout London.
  www.eaves4women.co.uk/POPPY_Project/POPPY_Project.php
  
  

  Downloads

• Women In London
  A report from the GLA that examines the position of women in the capital.
  www.london.gov.uk/capitalwoman/
  
  
• London Domestic Violence Strategy
  The second edition of the Domestic Violence Strategy was published in November 2005.
  www.london.gov.uk/mayor/strategies/
  
  
• The Corston Report
  A review of women with particular vulnerabilities in the criminal justice system, outlining the need for a distinct radically different, visibly-led, strategic, proportionate, holistic, woman-centred, integrated approach.
  www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/corston-report
  
  
• Why women-only? The value and benefits of by women, for women services
  This timely report from the Womens Resource Centre sets out why women-only services are still relevant and much in demand, despite a common misconception that they are no longer needed because women have achieved equality.
  www.whywomen.org.uk/