Women in the criminal justice system: policy statement
Published 17 July 2026
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The government is committed to improving outcomes for women in or at risk of contact with the criminal justice system and reducing the number of women entering and re-entering custody. Evidence shows that women in contact with the criminal justice system often face complex and overlapping needs, including trauma, poor mental health and substance misuse, and that their outcomes are shaped by factors beyond the justice system alone. Addressing these issues requires a coordinated, cross-system approach.
Building on the Women’s Justice Board’s recommendations, published in March 2026, alongside wider evidence, the government is taking forward a reform agenda to improve outcomes for women and reduce the number of women in custody. This builds on action already underway to strengthen support for women, including:
- Increased investment in women’s voluntary and community sector organisations, bringing total funding from 2026 to 2029 to £31.6 million. This includes the Women’s Diversion Fund which launched for grant applications on 15 June and will support organisations to deliver services focused on diverting women away from further contact with the criminal justice system, with a particular emphasis on reducing the number of women in prison.
- The expansion of Intensive Supervision Courts for women from one to six, providing a robust community alternative to custody alongside tailored support to address the underlying drivers of offending and reduce reoffending.
- Investing in the expansion of the Prison-Based Social Worker model across the women’s prison estate, with the ambition of providing social work resource in every women’s prison during 2026/27 following a successful pilot and evaluation.
Delivering meaningful and lasting reform will require cross-government action including the input of devolved services that contribute to improving outcomes for women. The Ministry of Justice will therefore work closely with other departments and Welsh Government to address the factors that contribute to women’s involvement in the criminal justice system, ensure the approach reflects the realities faced by women, and drive system-wide change.
A new Women’s Justice Advisory Group, chaired by Lord Timpson and bringing together external experts, will provide insight, advice and constructive challenge to support implementation of this reform agenda.