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Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Sarah McCarthy-Fry (Labour). It was answered on Thursday, 13 December 2007 on behalf of the Women and Equalities.


Imprisonment

Question
When women are given a custodial sentence, often it is not just the women who are punished but their children, too. Children often end up in care, and as a disproportionate number of women in the prison system have been through the care system themselves we could be perpetuating a cycle. We must look at non-custodial sentences for non-persistent, non-violent women offenders to keep families together and maintain their stability.
Answer

I agree. At present, 8,000 children a year have their living arrangements disrupted by their mother’s imprisonment, even if it is only a short period. That is why Baroness Corston’s review recommended the use of intensive community sentences, and I am committed to them.


Secondary information

Type
Oral question
Reference
469 c450-1 
Session
2007-08
Oral question type
Supplementary
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Children Alternatives to prison Women Mothers Offenders Prisons Sentencing
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk