The time has come to reconsider the existence of women's prisons. These institutions are not safe spaces for women, many of whom shouldn't be there in the first place. Initially, my belief that women's prisons should be abolished seemed quite radical. However, over the years, this perspective has felt increasingly necessary and urgent.

 

The prison system is in a state of profound crisis. In England and Wales, the prison population has doubled over the past 30 years, despite a substantial decrease in crime rates. Recently, the Prison Governors' Association warned that prisons were just days away from running out of cells. In response, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood blamed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for a "disgraceful dereliction of duty" for failing to address this issue. According to the Mirror, one proposal to ease the pressure on the system was to release enough female prisoners to free up an entire prison. Campaigners, exasperated, are asking why stop there?

 

It's worth considering the purpose of prison. The obvious answer is punishment for breaking the law. Then there's deterrence: the fear of punishment supposedly prevents crime. Additionally, being locked up theoretically stops further criminal activity. Rehabilitation is another goal, with the idea that prisoners should receive help and emerge as better people. However, even a brief look at statistics shows that prisons fail in all these areas, often in shocking ways. Women's prisons, in particular, are in a crisis within a crisis. Self-harm in women's prisons reached its highest rate ever recorded last year, with an increase of 63%—11 times higher than in men's prisons. Mental health issues affect 76% of women in prison. Pregnant women in prison are seven times more likely to suffer a stillbirth than those outside. Inside Time recently reported the death of another baby in an English prison, the third in five years. 

 

Nearly half of the women in prison have committed an offense to support someone else's drug habit. This is unsurprising, given that 70% of female offenders have experienced domestic abuse and over half have experienced childhood abuse. Most women are incarcerated for minor crimes and are more likely to be criminalized than men for issues like their children refusing to go to school. Many are serving short sentences, often for shoplifting, driven by the cost-of-living crisis. Regardless of the length of their sentences, their lives and those of their children are irreparably disrupted.

 

Writing about these issues is painful because it means acknowledging the women behind the statistics and the compromises that led to their incarceration. Independent inspections reveal appalling conditions in prisons. For instance, a 2022 inspection of HMP Eastwood Park found three women had died that year, with inmates living in deplorable conditions. Photos of cells depicted scenes reminiscent of a dystopian nightmare. Some cells were blood-spattered, and others had extensive scratches on the walls, reflecting the trauma experienced by previous residents. The inspection concluded that no prisoner should endure such conditions, especially women who are acutely unwell and distressed.

 

Jasmine York, jailed for ten weeks for her part in the "Kill the Bill" protest, described the harrowing environment, stating, "People self-harm in prison in ways that I have never even imagined." She told the BBC, "People are leaving and either re-committing or they’re leaving in a body bag." New figures suggest that HMP Eastwood Park is not unique. The number of assaults and self-harm incidents in women's prisons in England and Wales has hit record highs. This outcome is predictable when traumatized individuals with mental illnesses are locked up in squalor, without support or hope.

 

There are more humane and cost-effective alternatives for the few women who pose a genuine threat to their communities. The vast majority of women in prison are victims of a system more focused on punishment than prevention. The charity Women in Prison published a report this spring highlighting the value of women's centers. There are around 40 of these "one-stop-shops" across England and Wales, providing access to specialist advocacy and support for housing, debt, addiction, mental health, employment, education, domestic abuse, and parenting. These services can prevent women from being drawn into the criminal justice system and struggling to escape. The report is both poetic and humanizing, contrasting sharply with the dehumanizing nature of prisons and offering an alternative path.

 

It serves as a reminder that prisons are blunt instruments that harm not only those within their walls but also the wider society that prefers to look away. Women's prisons have served their time. It's time to abolish them and seek more effective and humane solutions.

 

Credit: The Guardian 2024-07-30

 

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4 hours ago, Social Media said:

The prison system is in a state of profound crisis. In England and Wales, the prison population has doubled over the past 30 years, despite a substantial decrease in crime rates.

 

Did you consider that maybe the crime rate is down because more bad guys and gals are locked up?

 

So the problem is not gender related, but the dire state of the prison service in general, and the failure of successive governments to implement an effective strategy to rehabilitate offenders and reduce recidivism while satisfying the wider public's need to see justice being served. 

When I saw the headline I already knew what the source would be.  Absolute jokers.   Future headline prediction from that same "newspaper":  Why only straight white men should be sent to prison

Myra Hindley would agree.

Womans prisions are a necessity and should be kept as such. Not allowing transgender males in a wig and a frock  would be a start. 

look up NYC gangs stealing under 1k $ not punishable by law, did

BS. Do the crime, do the time. End of story. Women's lib was once about equality....now the activists are after special privilege. 

Bad women are just as rotten as bad men. Nothing special about them. And nobody is crying over the stress they are feeling in prison. Very few prisons are about reform. Suggest some alternatives, before suggesting abolishing prison for women. 

I agree that women's prisons should be abolished. There should only be one prison system for all, male or female, convicted criminals to serve their sentences.

1 minute ago, WDSmart said:

I agree that women's prisons should be abolished. There should only be one prison system for all, male or female, convicted criminals to serve their sentences.

You sound a bit pervy.............😘

Time Has Come to Reconsider The Existence of Women's Prisons 

 

Why in Satans name is that hey? 

They do the crime the'll have to do the Time ,If they can't Handle the time Tough titties Grow up deal with it  no excuses. 

If the system isn't working doesn't one think that the Crims don't want to change and just Rebel at the system?  A criminal mind works different you know , Self harm is a typical  form of Rebellion amongst others .

14 hours ago, Social Media said:

theoretically stops further criminal activity. Rehabilitation is another goal, with the idea that prisoners should receive help and emerge as better people. However, even a brief look at statistics shows that prisons fail in all these areas, often in shocking ways. Women's prisons, in particular, are in a crisis within a crisis. Self-harm in women's prisons reached its highest rate ever recorded last year, with an increase of 63%—11 times higher than in men's prisons. Mental health issues affect 76% of women in prison

Build more Jails, Get the government to get Tough.

One side of the jail for Women Other side for the Dressed up Wannabees.

 

 

Should abolish mens prisons as well in this time of equality.

7 hours ago, transam said:

You sound a bit pervy.............😘

 

What could go wrong mixing women and men amongst lifers. I'm sure they will respect the ladies and possible pronouns. 

 

 

More and more women are caught as pedophiles all over the west and they want to close the jails ? How far is society going to tolerate all this feminist and woke rubbish that is very dear to the Biden cronies ?

17 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

So the problem is not gender related, but the dire state of the prison service in general, and the failure of successive governments to implement an effective strategy to rehabilitate offenders and reduce recidivism while satisfying the wider public's need to see justice being served. 

The problem is gender related. The women can do the crime but apparently not do the time. This article is claiming women are not the same as men, contrary to what the women in the world say. Could it be that these bad-a__ bitc_-s need a pink cell with their phone to stare at all day on a social media platform? Hmm.. 

or perhaps the prison system needs to be made more like the mens so their (demanded) equality shows more as well. 

all things being equal

 

 put them to work ....      HARD work

I do remember some movies back in the day about this issue……hummm……all kidding aside don’t do the crime then don’t go to prison.