Work of the voluntary sector
The work of the voluntary sector may appear to be a self-explanatory however, it is not. In reality voluntary sector organisations can use paid employees, have complex infrastructures and large overheads. The voluntary sector is diverse, performs all kinds of work and can work with hard to reach groups such as pregnant women in prison. Voluntary sector organisations involved with prisons can be part of large formal networks. For example, Clinks is an umbrella organisation for voluntary sector organisations involved with offenders both in and outside prisons. According to a recent report Clinks has over 600 members with a network of over 4000 voluntary sector contacts (Clinks, 2015). Academics claim that there is currently insufficient information and a lack of in-depth knowledge concerning the work with specific populations involved with the criminal justice system by the voluntary sector (Cocheran, 2011; Tomzack, 2013).
Range of work by volunteers:
An indication of the range of work by volunteers can be found in results from the Clinks survey of voluntary sector organisations involved with offenders. This survey identified how organisations did the following four main roles: emotional support, befriending, mentoring; helps people to access services or benefits; provides advice to individuals and delivery of public services (Clinks, 2015).
National policy activities in England and Wales:
In England and Wales, the Equality Act (2010) requires public authorities and services to protect women form discriminatory practices. Women within the criminal justice system are not all the same and are highly likely to need help with many complex issues relating to their life-histories, family circumstances as well as issues relating to resettling into communities. Several voluntary organisations are supporting women not only when they are within the criminal justice system but also by publicizing how they may have had experiences of marginalization or discrimination within their communities. The work of the voluntary sector relating to women in the criminal justice system within England and Wales currently involves a range of activities that have been summarized within a briefing document by Clinks. This document highlights ten projects that researchers, practitioners or anyone else interested could take part in. The details are within the briefing however this is a quick overview:
Trauma informed practice and training: provided by the Centre for crime and justice studies who aim to advance public understanding of crime, criminal justice and social harm.
Image provided by Centre for Crime and Justice Studies.
Reducing the amount of Welsh women in prison: from the Howard league for Prison Reform which also produce a regular blog and statistics from the weekly prison watch.
Image provided by Howard League for Prison Reform
Improving the sentencing of mothers: is the latest discussion document by the Prison Reform Trust. The Penal Reform Trust inquire into the workings of the system; informing prisoners, staff and the wider public; and aim to influence Parliament, government and officials towards reform.
Image provided by Penal Reform Trust.
Support families to re-unite and resettle when a mother is released from prison: provided by Women’s Breakout. Women’s Breakout is a third sector umbrella organisation that represents 56 voluntary and community sector organisations working with women offenders and women at risk of involvement in the criminal justice system in gender sensitive environments.
Encouraging the delivery of more effective approaches for women and girls: provided by
image provided by women centred working.com
Support for women and campaigns for a reduction of women in prison: provided by Women In Prison. Women in Prison aim to prevent the marginalization of women and limit the damage and disruption caused through contact with the criminal justice system to women and their families. Image provided by Women In Prison.
National policy lobbying through the provision of case studies: this is work provided by Clinks. image provided by Clinks
image provided by Clinks
Providing research about the current transforming rehabilitation agenda: this is a partnership between Clinks, the NCVO and Third Sector Research Centre.
Development work to provide shared evidence: this is a project developed by Clinks for working with organisations who have contact with women in the criminal justice system within London.
Campaigns for the re-design of systems and services so women and girls can access the support they need provided by AGENDA which is a new alliance of organisations and individuals who are campaigning for change for women and girls at risk.
Take Action:
If you are a researcher, practitioner or are interested in this topic, these are the main organisations that are known to take action on behalf of women in prison. The international non-government organisation represents female prisoners at an international level, where as the other organisations are directly involved with women in prison. This blog has been designed to compliment a number of organisations that support women in prison internationally, regionally and locally. For more information please see the take action page
Share and Enjoy
Originally published at www.r4womeninprison.com on November 27, 2015.
