While giving evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee last November, Prisons’ and Criminal Justice Minister Paul Goggins announced that he had commissioned the development of a new approach to the Management of Women Offenders.

This comprehensive study will address the key priorities in relation to the treatment of women offenders, looking at issues such as reducing offending and the provision of alternatives to custody. It will investigate the benefits of appropriate community supervision, including community-based facilities to support women offenders. It will also address the need for a gender-specific approach to custody, and explore options for a new purpose-built women’s prison.

To help inform the strategy a comprehensive four-day Consultation Event, involving key stakeholders, will be held in Hillsborough Castle from 28 April 2008 to 1 May 2008 inclusive.

Speaking ahead of the event Minister Goggins said:

“It is clear that specific responses are required to deal with women offenders, and that a cross-government approach is crucial to success. In 2004 at the Home Office I published the Women’s Offending Reduction Programme for England and Wales, and I am equally committed to addressing the needs of women offenders in Northern Ireland.

“That is why I have commissioned the development of this strategy to address how we deliver appropriate services and interventions for women offenders, and those at risk of offending, both within the community and in custody.

“This Consultation Event is the first of its kind on these issues in Northern Ireland, and is intended to be an open and accessible forum for interested parties to make a real contribution to the development of the strategy.

“I am very conscious of the particular vulnerabilities of women offenders, which were expertly analysed in Baroness Corston’s excellent report on women in the criminal justice system in England and Wales. We can learn from that report and I have asked those taking forward the strategy to be imaginative and innovative in bringing forward proposals to address the complex and multiple needs of this group of women.






“Achieving our aims will require a considerable co-ordination of effort across the wider criminal justice sector, as well as the co-operation of those Government agencies that cover the full breadth of issues which impact on women’s offending, such as mental health, alcohol and substance misuse, access to accommodation, child care, education and employment.

“I am particularly delighted to have so many key stakeholders attending this Consultation Event today. The event has been structured to maximise the quality of our engagement with them, so that their contribution will have a direct influence on the development of the strategy.

“Together we have a real chance to shape the future direction for the treatment of women offenders, both within the community and in prison.”

The final strategy is expected to be available for public consultation later this year.


Notes to Editors

1. The Consultation Event is a partnership between the NIO’s Criminal Justice Directorate, the Northern Ireland Prison Service and the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (the lead agencies in the development of the strategy).

2. The event will involve a number of key speakers, but will largely take the form of a number of focussed workshops, looking at a wide range of issues related to women’s offending.

3. Media are invited to attend the opening session on Monday 28 April where Juliet Lyon, Director of the Prison Reform Trust, will be the keynote speaker. There will also be contributions from Stephen Leach, Chair of the Criminal Justice Board for Northern Ireland, and from senior figures in the Youth Justice Agency and the Probation Board for Northern Ireland, as well as the Director of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, Robin Masefield.

4. Media wishing to attend must arrive at Hillsborough Castle no later than 9.45 a.m. on Monday 28 April. Key personnel will be available for interview. The opening session is the only part of the consultation event open to the media.

5. For further details contact Brian McAvoy at 90525354 / 07884490658.




While giving evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee last November, Prisons’ and Criminal Justice Minister Paul Goggins announced that he had commissioned the development of a new approach to the Management of Women Offenders.

This comprehensive study will address the key priorities in relation to the treatment of women offenders, looking at issues such as reducing offending and the provision of alternatives to custody. It will investigate the benefits of appropriate community supervision, including community-based facilities to support women offenders. It will also address the need for a gender-specific approach to custody, and explore options for a new purpose-built women’s prison.

To help inform the strategy a comprehensive four-day Consultation Event, involving key stakeholders, will be held in Hillsborough Castle from 28 April 2008 to 1 May 2008 inclusive.

Speaking ahead of the event Minister Goggins said:

“It is clear that specific responses are required to deal with women offenders, and that a cross-government approach is crucial to success. In 2004 at the Home Office I published the Women’s Offending Reduction Programme for England and Wales, and I am equally committed to addressing the needs of women offenders in Northern Ireland.

“That is why I have commissioned the development of this strategy to address how we deliver appropriate services and interventions for women offenders, and those at risk of offending, both within the community and in custody.

“This Consultation Event is the first of its kind on these issues in Northern Ireland, and is intended to be an open and accessible forum for interested parties to make a real contribution to the development of the strategy.

“I am very conscious of the particular vulnerabilities of women offenders, which were expertly analysed in Baroness Corston’s excellent report on women in the criminal justice system in England and Wales. We can learn from that report and I have asked those taking forward the strategy to be imaginative and innovative in bringing forward proposals to address the complex and multiple needs of this group of women.






“Achieving our aims will require a considerable co-ordination of effort across the wider criminal justice sector, as well as the co-operation of those Government agencies that cover the full breadth of issues which impact on women’s offending, such as mental health, alcohol and substance misuse, access to accommodation, child care, education and employment.

“I am particularly delighted to have so many key stakeholders attending this Consultation Event today. The event has been structured to maximise the quality of our engagement with them, so that their contribution will have a direct influence on the development of the strategy.

“Together we have a real chance to shape the future direction for the treatment of women offenders, both within the community and in prison.”

The final strategy is expected to be available for public consultation later this year.


Notes to Editors

1. The Consultation Event is a partnership between the NIO’s Criminal Justice Directorate, the Northern Ireland Prison Service and the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (the lead agencies in the development of the strategy).

2. The event will involve a number of key speakers, but will largely take the form of a number of focussed workshops, looking at a wide range of issues related to women’s offending.

3. Media are invited to attend the opening session on Monday 28 April where Juliet Lyon, Director of the Prison Reform Trust, will be the keynote speaker. There will also be contributions from Stephen Leach, Chair of the Criminal Justice Board for Northern Ireland, and from senior figures in the Youth Justice Agency and the Probation Board for Northern Ireland, as well as the Director of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, Robin Masefield.

4. Media wishing to attend must arrive at Hillsborough Castle no later than 9.45 a.m. on Monday 28 April. Key personnel will be available for interview. The opening session is the only part of the consultation event open to the media.

5. For further details contact Brian McAvoy at 90525354 / 07884490658.

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