Written question asked by Claire Curtis-Thomas (Labour) on Thursday, 20 October 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 24 October 2005. It was answered by Fiona Mactaggart (Labour) on Thursday, 17 November 2005 on behalf of the Home Office.

Prisons

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to provide victim support-based treatment for prison inmates who were victims of sexual abuse prior to incarceration.

Answer: A number of voluntary and self-help groups offer support to both female and male offenders who are survivors of sexual abuse, including interventions by rape crisis centres, counselling services and other health professionals. Services are contracted by prisons according to local circumstances.The Prison Service has issued operational advice and good practice guidelines entitled ““Supporting Women in Prison who have been Abused, Raped or who have experienced Domestic Violence (June 2005).”” A directory of services for women who have experienced abuse as children or adults has also been published recently.The Service has also consulted a number of relevant non-statutory agencies, as well as undertaking an extensive literature review on the impact of victimisation and its links with crime by women. Offending behaviour programmes currently being piloted with women are taking account of the role of childhood maltreatment in the causes of offending and substance use for women.

Secondary information