The government has announced that hundreds of vulnerable women will be better supported to break the cycle of reoffending through the expansion of crime-cutting Intensive Supervision Courts (ISCs). ISCs in West Yorkshire, Merseyside and Northumbria will tackle the addiction and trauma driving women’s crime – a new approach which has been found to reduce offending by a third in other countries.
The courts allow judges to play a more central role in rehabilitation through the monitoring of an individual’s progress and tighter supervision, as required. Measures include tagging, drug and alcohol treatments and/or trauma-informed services to hold women accountable for their offences.
Birmingham ISC is an exemplary instance of these courts in action, having helped hundreds of women since 2023. This includes the journey of 26-year-old Geraldine Owen, who said:
Going through the ISC has saved my life; I’ve made my way to my own truth. The experience has been powerful and has transformed my life; it has been a necessary chapter in my life.
Suzanne Smith, Head of Women’s Justice, Centre for Justice Innovation:
Problem-solving courts bring together the authority of the court and specialist services, including women’s centres, and show real promise in reducing women’s reoffending. An independent evaluation of the ISCs found improved wellbeing, stronger family relationships and reduced substance use, issues linked to offending. At the Centre for Justice Innovation, we have long championed these courts and recently trained each new court’s judges and multi-disciplinary team.
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