Women with Mental Health & Wellbeing Needs

in the Criminal Justice System

Forensic Mental Health Practitioner Service –

Women’s Services1

Introductions

Workshop Content

Any questions?

Welcome!

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How we work to support vulnerable defendants and offenders

Mental Health provision in Probation Court Liaison and Diversion mental health

provision Earlier identification in police station liaison

and diversion services Dedicated services for Women

Partnerships

Together’s Forensic Mental Health Practitioner Service

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Health and social care inequalities CJ involvement is only one of poor outcomes

Issues facing women in CJS – Delegates experience?

Dedicated services for Women in the Criminal Justice SystemWhy women – only services?

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What is your experience of WiCJS coming to the attention of MH Services?

How we work in Courts Working in a gender-appropriate and a Trauma – Informed way

Links to accommodation partners

Together’s model of working with women defendants

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On your chairs you have found cards

We will now go through a few statements

If you agree – indicate by lifting the GREEN card

If you disagree – use the RED card

Quizz

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In the last 15 years, the number of women in prison has more or less remained

the same

#1

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Women commit a different range of offences from men. They

commit more acquisitive crime and have a lower involvement in

serious violence, criminal damage and professional crime.

However, proportionately, more women than men are remanded

in custody

#2

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The cost of keeping a woman in prison for 1 year is £23,600,

while the cost of a Community Order is

just under half of that.

#3

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51% of women in prison have mental health needs

and 32% of women in prison have a

long-standing illness

#4

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Almost 7 in 10 women in prison reported committed the offence(s) while under the influence of illegal

drugs and/or in order to obtain money to buy drugs

#5

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48% of women in prison reported having committed offences to

support someone else’s drug use

#6

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Women in prison self-harm twice as often as men in prison

#7

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Women with histories of violence and abuse are over represented in

the criminal justice system: More than 50% of women in

prison have experienced domestic violence;

1 in 3 has experienced sexual abuse

#8

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30% of women in prison lose their accommodation while in prison

#9

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18,000 children are separated every year from their mothers, who are women with the chaotic homes lives, severe poverty and

who offend

#10

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Sources:• Ministry of Justice (2013). Gender differences in substance

misuse and mental health amongst prisoners: Results from the Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR) longitudinal cohort study of prisoners.

• Ministry of Justice (2011). Statistics on Women and the Criminal Justice System.

• Home Office (2007). The Corston Report: Review of women with particular vulnerabilities in the Criminal Justice System.

• Ministry of Justice (2012). A Distinct Approach: A guide to working with Women in the Criminal Justice System.

• Together for Mental Wellbeing (2013): A Common Sense Guide to working with women with health and wellbeing needs in the criminal justice system.

• www.womensbreakout.org.uk• www.womeninprison.org.uk

Same treatment does not result in equal outcomes

An important point

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Think in the context of trauma

Think holistically

And another one!

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We will work in groups

You all have the same case study

Identify the Issues discussion in groups

Feedback to wider group

Case Study

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Now consider this client’s presentation and needs in the context

of experiences of abuse and

complex trauma

Think “trauma”

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Each group has a different outcome for the case to consider

All of them are realistic

What are your thoughts?

Case Scenarios

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Frankie ClaymanWomen’s FMHP at Thames Magistrates Court

Eva RoussouProject Coordinator/ Women’s Lead

Forensic Mental Health Practitioner Service

eva-roussou@together-uk.org

Thank you!

Evaluation Forms

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