Women in Prison is a gender specific campaign and support organization for women affected by the criminal justice system that was started in 1983. It provides advocacy, mental health support, housing assistance, education, and art programs for women in prisons and community centers. The organization aims to divert women from custody, provide community support alternatives to imprisonment, and improve conditions for women in prison. Some key facts are that over 50% of women in prison experienced domestic or child abuse, many have mental health or substance abuse issues, and over 60% leave prison without a home.

1. Conference
Date
Name
Women in Prison

2. Gender specific campaign
& support organisation for
women affected by the
criminal justice system
Started in 1983 by
ChrisTchaikovsky
former Holloway
prisoner born of her
anger at the
injustices &
circumstances she
saw of her fellow
incarcerated women
Who we are &
What we do
✓ Platform for women’s
voices in prison and
community
✓ Women’s centres in
Lambeth,Woking,
Manchester
✓ Holistic services –
advocacy, mental
health, housing,
domestic violence,
complex needs,
employment
✓ Education including
distance learning in
prisons
✓ Art & poetry
competitions
✓ Campaign for change

3. Facts
1) Divert women from
custody
2) Provide
community support
& alternatives that
work
3) Improve dignity &
wellbeing for
women in prison
2020 Goal: Numbers of women in prison
reduced from 3,900 to 2020 (or less) by
20203,994 June 2017
45% on remand
84% for non violent offences
(e.g.theft TV licence)
Over 50% experience of
domestic abuse & child abuse
High levels of mental ill
health & substance misuse
31% in care as children
60% leave without a home
21% of prison self harm
22 women died in 2016 (12
took their own lives)
1 in 10 job on release
9 out of 10 children leave
their home as a result of
having a mother in prison
COST: £42k p/a (plus £25k
fostering place)

4. “The most common way
people give up power is
by thinking they don’t
have any “
Alice Walker
“Who opens a school door,
closes a prison”
Victor Hugo
2020 by 2020 - 5 Point Plan
“ I w
s once asked why I don’t participate in ti-war
demonstrations. I said that I will never do
that. but as soon as you have a
pro-peace rally, I’ll be there ”
“ I was once asked why I
don’t participate in anti-war
demonstrations. I said that I
will never do that. but as
soon as you have a pro-
peace rally, I’ll be there “
MotherTheresa
1. Sustained national and local funding
for women’s centres and services that
enable women to tackle the root causes of
offending
2. Investment in community alternatives
to custody including housing not prisons
3. Liaison and diversion schemes in every
area for early intervention
4. Sentencing reform to reduce the overuse
of remand, promote community
alternatives to custody and halt the
“revolving door” of prison
5. Greater access to justice including
addressing Indeterminate Public Protection
(IPP) sentence and removing the power of
recall for those on short sentences

5. Conference
Date
Name
Position