Policy paper

Concordat on women in or at risk of contact with the Criminal Justice System

Cross government agreement to improve outcomes for women in or at risk of contact with the Criminal Justice System.

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

Details

The Female Offender Strategy (2018) identified the importance of effective partnerships in addressing the multiple and complex needs of women in or at risk of contact with the criminal justice system. The Strategy committed Government to develop this Concordat covering England and Wales.

The first section examines how government departments should work together nationally to identify and respond to the needs of women. It contains an agreed cross-Government commitment to support women and an action plan to give effect to the commitment.

The second section looks at improving outcomes at a local level, including through establishing a whole system approach to respond more collaboratively and effectively to the multiple and complex needs of women in or at risk of contact with the criminal justice system.

The Strategy also contained a commitment to publish a data tool to enable local areas to better understand the needs of the women in their area.The data tool will allow work to be tailored to respond more closely to local needs and to track the outcomes and success of work locally.

Published 23 January 2021