Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what funds have been made available for support services in Sheffield for women who have left prison in the last 12 months; and what funds she plans to make available for that purpose in the next 12 months?

We are developing a strategy for female offenders to improve outcomes for women in the community and in custody. This will also consider how we can improve early intervention and diversion to avoid vulnerable women entering the criminal justice system.

Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) are contractually required to provide services for female offenders that they are managing in the community, and to deliver resettlement services to offenders both before and following release from prison. As part of our reforms to probation, we have given providers the flexibility to innovate and do what works to reduce reoffending, and to tailor rehabilitative support to the particular needs of offenders locally. These services are provided in Sheffield by South Yorkshire CRC.

As part of their supply chain, South Yorkshire CRC have contracted with Changing Lives, a consortium of local organisations, to deliver bespoke interventions for female offenders. The CRC are also working closely with Community Safety Partnerships to improve outcomes for women who have been either a victim of domestic violence or are a sex worker.

We have a robust contract management and assurance process in place for CRCs, and continue to assess their performance through a range of service levels, including their delivery of Through the Gate and how they are addressing the specific needs of female offenders.