Whole System Approach for Women Offenders - Final Evaluation Report

Kinsella, Rachel, Clarke, Rebecca, Lowthian, Jackie, Ellison, Mark, Kiss, Zsolt and Wong, Kevin (2018) Whole System Approach for Women Offenders - Final Evaluation Report. UNSPECIFIED. Policy Evaluation and Research Unit (PERU) Manchester Metropolitan University.

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Abstract

The evaluation has found that the WSA provides a good example of a gendered approach to supporting women in contact with the criminal justice system or at risk of offending and has been successful in responding to a number of its key aims. These include: creating opportunities to divert women from charge, court and custody; supporting women in ways which reduce their repeat criminalisation; and the provision of safe women-only spaces which can contribute to a reduction in the damage that involvement in the criminal justice system can have on women and their families. It is doing so by empowering women and improving their wellbeing and safety. Other key features of the approach include providing gender specific support to women across Greater Manchester, at all stages of the criminal justice system, based on multi-agency working, built around the network of women’s centres. This summary will now consider the evidence of impact against each of these aims in turn.