Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Mike Wood (Batley and Spen) (Labour), on Friday, 26 February 2010, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 28 members in total.

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SEMI-OPEN PRISONER CATEGORY AND WOMEN IN PRISON

That this House expresses concern that re-categorisation of HM Prison Morton Hall and HM Prison Drake Hall from semi-open to closed prisons has left no semi-open prisons in the whole of the female estate; notes that women who were categorised as semi-open have been re-categorised as closed for no apparent reason other than the lack of a semi-open prison to hold them and that women who are currently classed as semi-open are being held in security conditions higher than necessary; further notes that in effect a security categorisation that exists for men does not now exist for women and that no women entering prison are being given semi-open categorisation; believes this is having a negative impact on women's progression through the prison system, particularly in light of the fact that there are only two open prisons in the women's estate, with a combined capacity of 228 prisoners; further believes that this has a negative impact on the families of women in prison as it limits family leave in preparation for resettlement; and calls on the Government to review its decision.

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Secondary information

Type

Early day motion

Reference

956 

Session

2009-10

Other sponsors

Peter Bottomley

Glenda Jackson

Lynne Jones

Gordon Prentice

Martin Caton

Subjects

Prisons

Link

View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk