header-logo header-logo

Lessons from Holloway

15 November 2024 / John Cooper KC
Issue: 8094 / Categories: Features , Human rights , Criminal
printer mail-detail
196783
John Cooper KC on how a new film exposes the rot at the heart of how we sentence women

Back in 2007 Baroness Jean Corston presented her seminal report on women in prison. Its 43 recommendations were intended to provide a roadmap for women-specific criminal justice reform and to chart a better, more effective way to reform imprisoned offenders.

The report recognised a prevailing truth that prison was and remains an ineffective way of dealing with the majority of women offenders who do not pose a significant risk of harm to public safety.

Corston recognised the particular vulnerabilities of women in prison, many of them already the victims of domestic abuse, poverty, isolation, mental health issues and struggling with childcare.

The essence of her recommendations was for community services to be used within the sentencing regime as the norm and the development of community disposals to take the place of imprisonment.

Well, that was then and this is now and the problem is that little has been done to change the dysfunctional

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
back-to-top-scroll