Northern Ireland

Women and girls in Northern Ireland being 'disproportionately' sent to prison for theft offences

Proportionately, more females were sent to prison for theft than males
Proportionately, more females were sent to prison for theft than males Proportionately, more females were sent to prison for theft than males

WOMEN and girls in Northern Ireland are being `disproportionately' sent to prison for theft offences, with the chief criminal justice inspector demanding systemic change.

The latest Criminal Justice Inspection (CJI) focuses on the treatment of female offenders for the first time.

Chief Inspector Jacqui Durkin said it revealed women and girls under "are most commonly prosecuted and convicted of motoring, violence and theft offences" - in accounting for less than one fifth of court convictions.

"Proportionately, more females were sent to prison for theft than males," Ms Durkin said.

Inspectors looked at female offenders treatment by the police, prosecution, courts, prison, probation and youth justice services.

They "are also more likely to receive short prison sentences but their impact can be far reaching. A short prison sentence for a mother can be life changing for her child".

Ms Durkin said there is evidence of genuine understanding of the specific needs of females and efforts to help those in crisis, but rising numbers of female offenders entering prison means it is "imperative criminal justice organisations do more to develop and deliver female focused interventions and outcomes that met their specific needs".

"The treatment of females by the criminal justice system must take account of the specific issues and sensitivities affecting women and girls to deliver outcomes that are equitable."

She said inspectors found "criminal justice approaches could overlook specific vulnerabilities".

“This inspection report makes three strategic and five operational recommendations for improvement to help achieve the change we believe is required.

She warned that the new Department of Justice strategy under development "can't be another strategy that just sits on the shelf".