Dr Michelle Carr

Forensic Psychologist

Slipping through the Metaphorical Net

Objectives of the sessionTo give an overview of the services provided for girls

and women currently in the criminal justice systemTo give some examples of the extreme consequences

of not providing intervention at an early stage To give an overview of the factors associated with

girls and women in the criminal justice systemTo introduce the Primrose Service based at HMP YOI

Low Newton part of the personality disorder initiative To spark discussion around what more can be done

YOT TO HIGH SECURE FORENSIC FACILITY

An overview of the girls and women in the criminal justice system and what is currently provided

% of Proven Offences by Young People 2011/12

Youth Offender TeamYoung Offender InstitutionsSecure Children's HomesAdolescent Psychiatric

Facilities Forensic And Community

Treatment Services [FACTS]

Factors Contributing to CriminalitySubstance MisuseSelf InjuryNeurological Deficits (IQ, Literacy and Numeracy)Diagnosable Mental Health DisorderBereavement and LossVictim of CrimePTSDLDPeer and Family RelationshipsLong Standing Physical ComplaintHomelessness or Experience of Being in Care

Factors Contributing to CriminalitySubstance MisuseSelf InjuryNeurological Deficits (IQ, Literacy and Numeracy)Diagnosable Mental Health DisorderBereavement and LossVictim of CrimePTSDLDPeer and Family RelationshipsLong Standing Physical ComplaintHomelessness or Experience of Being in Care

YOI/ STC/ SCHProbationPrisonTherapeutic CommunitiesPrimrosePIPE’sApproved PremisesForensic Secure FacilitySupported Accommodation

Difficulties with Secure Environments

“Although some units accepted young women with these emerging difficulties, others felt less able to support them particularly if they already had one or two other young women on the unit with similar presentations. Some interviewees felt that many young women slipped between the cracks of services failing to access the support they needed at an early enough stage”

» Centre for Mental Health, 2010

Real Life CaseVictoria AgogliaShe ran away 21 times in two

months from her care home in Rochdale. 

She was raped and was known by her carers to be used for sex by older men in exchange for cash, alcohol and hard drugs. 

She died of a drug overdose

Is the CJS Gender Sensitive?

Interventions and Treatments are more often than not developed with men in mind for men as there are much higher numbers of men in the CJS.

Corston Report highlighted the gender inequality in the prison service.

Specialist services for girls and women are relatively non-existent in both the community and secure establishments.

InterventionsSkills which will increase their ability to function

effectively in the community (i.e. useful)Offence FocussedTrauma FocussedCounsellingSkills BasedEmotion Regulation Socialisation

WHAT'S THE WORST THAT CAN HAPPEN?

Real Life Examples

Real Life Examples

HEADLINE

WOMEN IN GLASSING ATTACKS

LOCKED UP

Miss ADefence counsel Iain Ross said Bishop had "spiralled

out of control" around the age of 16 after her parents broke up and her mother began a relationship with a man who was abusive and addicted to heroin

Defence counsel Paul Hester said on the night of the offence, Hadfield had left her own birthday celebration because of an argument involving her partner. "She went in, in that emotional state, having had drink and things got out of hand," he said.

Real Life Examples

HEADLINE

MURDER MANUAL GIRL GETS 20

YEARS

Miss BA psychiatric report carried out after the discovery of

the document said there was nothing to suggest she was capable of such violence.

"The psychiatric report did not predict any likely occurrence of this," said a spokesman for Barnet Youth Offending Team.

"Once her supervision was completed, there was no mechanism for stopping her re-offending." 

Henry Blaxland QC, defending, said: "The court has before it somebody who is, on the face of it, emotionally damaged.

THE PERSONALITY DISORDER PATHWAY

The Primrose Service based at HMP YOI Low Newton

The Primrose Service Prison PD Pathway

Opened its doors on 1st September 200612 beds on F wing, HMP YOI Low NewtonFor women who have a current offence against the

person, including arson and sexual offences.Assessed as presenting as high risk of reoffendingLikely to have a severe form of personality disorderA clinically justifiable link between the above

Why did Primrose come about? A gender specific strategy was needed to focus on

women who present a high or very high risk of serious harm to others.

Almost all offending behaviour programmes for violent and sexual offending are delivered for men.

The prevalence of PD in women in prison is about 60-70%

To increase the workforce knowledge and ability to cope with such a challenging group of women.

What Does the Service Do?

Treatments & Interventions

DISCUSSION

What more can be done for girls and women in the CJS?

THANK YOU

Any Questions?