Review calls for women's prisons to be scrapped

London, Mar 14: A government-backed review into the death of six women at a prison in northern England called for female prisons to be scrapped and replaced by new specialised units.

The report by Baroness Jean Corston, commissioned after the deaths of the women at Styal Prison in Cheshire between 2002 and 2003, said there needed to be a radical new approach to women in the criminal justice system.

''It has been made clear to me during my review that, as a minority in the criminal justice system, women's needs are invariably overlooked,'' Corston said yesterday.

Among her 43 recommendations, she said the government should commit itself to replacing existing women's prisons with small, local custodial units within the next 10 years and also state that prison was not the place for women who did not pose a risk.

She also said there should be a larger network of women's community centres to help those who offend or who were at risk of offending along with the creation of a ''high level champion'' for women to ensure their needs were met.

''I was very impressed with the women's centres which I visited during my review and the holistic and woman-centred approach to meeting the needs of women,'' Corston said.

''The tragic deaths of two female prisoners in January this year highlight that a radical new approach is needed in regard to the management of women offenders and more widely, women at risk of offending.'' The Howard League for Penal Reform welcomed the report, saying it backed its findings.

''For women who offend, prison simply doesn't work,'' said Frances Crook, the charity's director.

''From lack of staff training and inadequate healthcare, to questionable policies such as segregating women at risk and the overuse of force, the systematic failings of imprisonment that the Corston review highlights must be addressed by the government.''

Reuters>