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Home Office

Answer

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what counselling and support is available in women's prisons to assist prisoners who have been victims of (a) domestic violence and (b) sexual abuse. [142886] Paul Goggins: A survey carried out by the Prison Service in 2003 demonstrates that a wide range of support is given across the prison estate to women who report that they have been abused. This includes offering women individual support and/or counselling; the provision of advice and information and referral to appropriate outside agencies. Individual establishments work closely with local community agencies with specialist expertise in abuse issues. The support offered to individual women who report that they have suffered any kind of abuse and have asked for help, will be determined following a full assessment of their needs. The support offered varies between establishments and reflects local circumstances. The Prison Service is currently working with a small group of local practitioners, including both prison staff and voluntary agencies, to develop good practice principles so that consistency in the standard of support offered can be achieved. This work will be completed by March 2004 and will draw on a recently published literature review by Carol-Ann Hooper (2003), from the University of York on "Abuse, Interventions and Women in Prison". In addition, examples of specific work being done for women who are the victims of domestic violence include working to help women avoid going back into circumstances that are high risk for violence when they are released and the provision in many establishments of posters/helpline information supplied by local domestic violence networks.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

142886; 416 c18W;416 c18-9W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Abuse Advisory services Women Domestic abuse Prisoners Prisons Sexual offences

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk