2
Recommendation
Fifty-First Report - Improving outcomes…
Not Addressed
Despite its emphasis on community provision in its strategy, the Ministry has not yet quantified how much funding is required or invested heavily in community services for women. The Ministry has declined to set targets for its female offender programme. It says that doing so would be inappropriate as achieving …
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Despite its emphasis on community provision in its strategy, the Ministry has not yet quantified how much funding is required or invested heavily in community services for women. The Ministry has declined to set targets for its female offender programme. It says that doing so would be inappropriate as achieving its outcomes depends on decisions by independent bodies such as the judiciary. However, without setting out its own expectations of what can be achieved, the Ministry cannot assess how much it should spend on community services or ultimately how much can be saved from reductions in the numbers of women coming before the courts and being sent to prison. The Ministry spent £9.5 million between 2018–19 and 2021–22 on providing services in the community for women in, or at risk of being in contact with, the criminal justice system (CJS). This contrasts with the £200 million the Ministry has committed to spend on creating 500 additional prison places for women that it projects it will need due to increased police numbers. When it made this projection, the Ministry did not build in any expected reduction in numbers of women in court or being sent to prison as a result of improved community services. Recommendation: The Ministry should assess the level of funding required in the community. To do this, it should estimate and publish: • the proportion of women that are currently arrested or prosecuted, and the proportion of women currently remanded or sentenced to prison, who could appropriately be supported in the community instead; and • how much it would cost to provide support for these women via women’s services in the community.
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Government response AI summary
The government's response discusses EDF's strategies, plans and the estimated costs for decommissioning, which is unrelated to the recommendation about funding for community services for women.
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HM Treasury
1
Conclusion
Fifty-First Report - Improving outcomes…
Not Addressed
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Ministry of Justice (the Ministry) and HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) on improving outcomes for women in the criminal justice system.1 We also took evidence from Women in Prison, the Howard League …
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On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Ministry of Justice (the Ministry) and HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) on improving outcomes for women in the criminal justice system.1 We also took evidence from Women in Prison, the Howard League for Penal Reform; and Anawim— Birmingham’s Centre for Women.
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Government response AI summary
The government provides background information about the report.
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HM Treasury
7
Recommendation
Fifty-First Report - Improving outcomes…
Not Addressed
The Ministry told us that it has received a record funding settlement at the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021.11 We asked the Ministry how much of this it will be spending on the female offender programme.12 It told us it has not yet allocated funding to specific budgets but …
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The Ministry told us that it has received a record funding settlement at the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021.11 We asked the Ministry how much of this it will be spending on the female offender programme.12 It told us it has not yet allocated funding to specific budgets but that it wanted to fund the programme properly given that it is a real priority for the Ministry and for the government.13 The Ministry told us its funding settlement includes £550 million over three years (2022–23 to 2024–25) to reduce reoffending (by both men and women), that this amount is not directly associated with the female offender programme but that “a lot of it” would be used to support women.14 Community services
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Government response AI summary
The government discusses an indicative timeframe, the CEO of the Delivery Authority, and a new Joint Department within Parliament.
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HM Treasury