Summary
To support a collective of women's justice organisations leading on this vital and neglected area of work
Aims and activities
Aims and questions
Aims and activities
To end the unjust, unsafe and unfair remand of women before trial and sentencing. The work seeks changes in the policy, practice and attitudes that benefit all women impacted by remand in the UK and reduction in the numbers of women serving custodial sentences whilst awaiting trial or sentencing.
Currently there are c. 800 women on remand, out of a total prison population of less than 4000 - numbers are increasing. The impact on their children and families, is devastating. Even when a custodial sentence is inevitable, remand is significantly overused, for a group that generally pose low risk to the public.
Three key areas of the work include: ending the remand of women for their own protection; ending remand of pregnant women and primary carers; ending the disproportionate remand of black and global majority women. Women with experience of remand sit at the heart of this work, as does building the data and evidence base, and building a public narrative that supports change.
How to get involved
We would welcome the involvement of other funders either through contribution to the pooled fund, or signalling other ways that they can add-value to the work of the Coalition.
Please contact Jo at Firebird Collective on jo@firebirdcollective.co.uk
Who's involved
Who was involved
The Firebird Foundation is leading the initiative on the funding side, with support from funders in the Corston Independent Funders Coalition.
The key coalition partners are: The Howard League; Women in Prison; One Small Thing; Not Beyond Redemption; Hibiscus; Clean Break and Birth Companions.
Learning and Resources
There are several resources available to share including a proposal, the co-produced strategy of the collective, and a budget. A systematic review of all the evidence on remand commissioned by the group is also available: The Howard League | Women on remand – scoping review and Evidence and Gap Map
