Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 34
34
Deferred
Paragraph: 180
Publish long-term retention plans for pandemic family contact measures and current visit data for women
Recommendation
We recognise the damaging effect that the pandemic had on face-to-face contact for women and welcome the measures that were taken to ensure that women could maintain contact with their families. The Ministry of Justice should set out what measures, if any, that were introduced in response to the pandemic, will be kept on a long-term basis. Additionally, the MoJ should set out the situation with regard to family contact as it currently stands; the MoJ should include information on the number of monthly family visits that took place across the female prison estate pre- Covid, and how many are now taking place. Additionally, the MoJ should set out what measures have been put in place to ensure that women are able to access family visits as needed.
Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation but did not address family contact measures, pandemic-related changes, or family visit data. Instead, it detailed the Community Accommodation Service for prison leavers, outlining temporary accommodation, single-gender provision with 10% for women, and the support provided by Community Probation Practitioners and the Women’s Commissioned Rehabilitation Service for housing and holistic needs.
Paragraph Reference:
180
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
We accept this recommendation. The community accommodation service uses basic, private rented sector accommodation to provide up to 84 nights of temporary accommodation for all prison leavers who are at risk of being released homeless. In the event a bed space is not immediately available, or the accommodation need is very short- term, prison leavers can be accommodated in hotels for a short period of time, up to 14 nights, as a short-term holding arrangement before moving onto private rented provision. The service takes account of the needs of women with accommodation provision dedicated to single gender usage as required. CAS3 providers are required to ensure that 10% of their provision in each probation region is dedicated for supporting female prison leavers. Community Probation Practitioners, working together with local partners, are responsible for ensuring that vulnerable female prison leavers receive appropriate support and are provided with housing beyond the 12 weeks’ temporary accommodation. Community Probation Practitioners have access to additional support for women through the Women’s Commissioned Rehabilitation Service. This provision is a holistic service offer, delivered by expert and experienced women’s services, that covers a broad range of interventions including accommodation support.