Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of women in (1) HMP Askham Grange, (2) HMP Bronzefield, (3) HMP Downview, (4) HMP Drake Hall, (5) HMP East Sutton Park, (6) HMP Eastwood Park, (7) HMP Foston Hall, (8) HMP Low Newton, (9) HMP New Hall, (10) HMP Send, and (11) HMP Styal, are there for non-violent offences; and in each prison what percentage of those women are mothers of children under the age of 18.
The Government recognises that there is an impact on families and children when a woman is involved in the criminal justice system and that children of imprisoned mothers may be particularly affected by a custodial sentence. We have commissioned Lord Farmer to continue his work to enable us to understand what specific measures we can take to help women strengthen family ties, especially with their children, whilst serving sentences in the community, in custody and after they are released.
The number of women in each establishment serving sentences for non-violent offences and the average length of those sentences is set out in table one below.
The percentage of women in each establishment recorded as having children is set out in the table two below. The Ministry of Justice does not have this information broken down by type of offence.
The Ministry of Justice does not hold data on the age or the arrangements made for the care of dependent children of women serving custodial sentences. The percentage of women in prison for non-violent offences who are also re-offenders can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Table 1: Female prison population at selected establishments by non-violent offences and average sentence length as at 31 March 2018.
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Establishment |
| Non-violent offences | Average (mean) sentence length (days) for non-violent offences | |
Total population | Number | % | ||
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Askham Grange | 118 | 81 | 69% | 1411 |
Bronzefield | 517 | 407 | 79% | 879 |
Downview | 325 | 248 | 76% | 1596 |
Drake Hall | 319 | 236 | 74% | 1658 |
East Sutton Park | 87 | 66 | 76% | 1407 |
Eastwood Park | 361 | 283 | 78% | 821 |
Foston Hall | 317 | 222 | 70% | 1006 |
Low Newton | 322 | 221 | 69% | 1397 |
New Hall | 373 | 258 | 69% | 1111 |
Send | 270 | 150 | 56% | 1896 |
Styal | 449 | 315 | 70% | 1026 |
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Note
Table 2: Percentage of women recorded as having children by establishment, 26 June 2018
Establishment | Percentage have children |
Askham Grange | 77% |
Bronzefield | 52% |
Downview | 52% |
Drake Hall | 68% |
East Sutton Park | 62% |
Eastwood Park | 71% |
Foston Hall | 63% |
Low Newton | 66% |
New Hall | 68% |
Peterborough (female) | 60% |
Send | 55% |
Styal | 67% |
Notes: