This briefing will examine the next steps for supporting women in Scotland’s justice system to reduce offending behaviour, rehabilitate and make positive changes.

How can we improve outcomes for women in the criminal justice system?

In April 2012, the Commission on Women Offenders reported that ‘radical reform’ of Scotland's justice system was needed to reduce the female prison population.

Since then there’s been a commitment to redesign the female custodial estate, but the 2017 HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland report highlighted an increase in the number of women in custody.

With the presumption against short sentences extended and new community justice arrangements in place, what progress has been made?

Attend this Holyrood briefing for an up-to-date brief on the latest policy priorities and good practice in helping to improve outcomes for women in Scotland’s criminal justice system.

Key issues we’ll examine with you

• Latest developments and policy affecting women with criminal convictions 
• Progress since the Commission on Women Offenders, six years on
• Taking a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to achieve positive outcomes
• Being aware of women in the justice system’s needs and vulnerabilities
• Helping support desistance and women progress out of the criminal justice system
• Navigating ongoing changes to social security upon release into community
• Managing complex needs, including alcohol, mental health and drugs
• Good practice and innovation in supporting women to reintegrate in communities
• Collaboration between statutory agencies and third sector organisations

Who will benefit from attending?

Criminal justice practitioners; professionals from the police/judiciary/social work/rehabilitation services/housing; third sector organisations; and anyone that works with women who have criminal convictions. 

Agenda*

09:15 Registration and Refreshments

10:00 Welcome and Introduction by the Chair

Jennifer Trueland, Journalist

10:05 Session 1: Women in the Scottish Criminal Justice System

• Latest developments and policy affecting women with criminal convictions 
• Progress since the Commission on Women Offenders six years ago
• Next steps for supporting desistance and moving out of the justice system

10:05 Women in the Justice system in Scotland

Anne Pinkman, Convenor of Scottish Working Group on Women’s Offending (SWGWO), and Programme Manager for Women’s Offending, Scotland and Northern Ireland, Prison Reform Trust​

10:30 How Can a Radical Reduction in Women's Imprisonment be Achieved​?

Professor Cyrus Tata, Professor of Law and Criminal Justice, and Director of the Centre for Law, Crime and Justice, Strathclyde University Law School

10:55 Questions and Discussion

11:15 Refreshments and Networking

11:35 Session 2: Priorities for Rehabilitation and Reducing Reoffending

• Taking a holistic multi-disciplinary approach to achieve positive outcomes in multiple areas (accommodation, addictions, finances, health, education, relationships, resilience and social integration)
• Being aware of women in the justice system’s needs and vulnerabilities
• Helping support desistance and women progress out of the criminal justice system

11:35 Shine, Past, Present and Future

Shine Women’s Mentoring Service

• Background
• Barriers
• Reality – Mentor & Mentee perspective

Yvonne Robson, Shine Partnership Manager, Shine Mentoring Service 
Yvonne will be joined by Jan Anderson, a mentor, and Angela Gilchrist, her mentee.

12:00 Case Study: Women's Centres - A new approach

Valerie Barr, Project Manager, Heart and Soul (Cumnock Women’s Centre)

12:25 Questions and Discussion

12:45 Lunch and Networking

13:30 Session 3: Improving Reintegration into the Community

• Navigating ongoing changes to social security upon release into community
• Managing complex needs, including alcohol, mental health and drugs
• Good practice and innovation in supporting women to reintegrate in communities (assessment, treatment, support)
• Collaboration between statutory agencies and third sector organisations

13:30 Staying oOT – Early Intervention for Females from Custody

• Explanation of court screening and early intervention model for females in the justice system
• Partnership working with NHS Occupational therapist

Rachael Moss, Performance Officer, Partnership Delivery Team, Justice Social Work Services

Emma Lewis, Occupational Therapist, NHS Ayrshire and Arran - Women's Justice/ East Adult Mental Health

13:55 Glasgow Women’s Supported Bail Service (Turning Point Scotland & Aberlour) – winner of the ‘Silo-buster’ Award, Scottish Social Services Awards 2017

Kirstin Abercrombie, Service Manager, and Michelle Wallace, Service Coordinator, Criminal Justice Services, Turning Point Scotland

14:20 Questions and Discussion

14:40 Summary by the Chair

14:45 Close of Event

*Agenda subject to change

Venue

NASUWT, 35 Young Street North Lane, Edinburgh | Map

Costs

Delegate rates (excluding VAT):

• Discounted rate: 1 place £145 + VAT (Voluntary / charitable organisations with an annual income of less than £1m)
• Reduced rate: 1 place £245 + VAT | 2+ places £195 + VAT (Central government departments and agencies, local authorities, universities, colleges, NHS, police, professional associations and voluntary / charitable organisations with an annual income over £1m)
• Full rate: 1 place £295 + VAT | 2+ places £245 + VAT (Commercial organisations e.g. plc, Ltd, LLP)

For more information please email enquiries@holyrood.com or phone 0131 285 1635