Fresh Approach Needed for Women in Prisons - JustSpeak

JustSpeak, a young people’s network working towards a fairer justice system, gathered last night to discuss issues facing women in New Zealand prisons. Approximately 70 young people came to explore this topic and to share their thoughts at one of JustSpeak’s monthly forums.

In light of a number of presentations given to the group, JustSpeak considered the appropriateness of having a women-centred approach to the prisons system and asked whether the differences in female and male offending necessitate a gendered approach. JustSpeak believes that further research into women's unique experiences in prison is needed, as well as further research into the causes of women’s offending in this country.

JustSpeak believes further attention should be directed to the issue of access that women prisoners have to children under the age of two. Current policy allows for eligible women prisoners who have children to live with their babies until the age of two. However, only Christchurch Women’s Prison has suitable facilities to implement this policy for children between 9 months and two years. Women in prison who wish to keep their children up to age two must travel to Christchurch, even if that means moving further away from their homes and communities, and possibly other children.

While JustSpeak supports initiatives like Moana House (a residential community in Dunedin, which caters for male offenders) there needs to be greater and more meaningful engagement on how to create and coordinate community rehabilitation programmes for women across New Zealand. A clip from Maori Television’s “Songs from the Inside” was used to open the forum as an introduction to the issues that women in prisons face.

JustSpeak
commends Maori Television on their work in producing this excellent series which gives an insight into the lives of prisoners. JustSpeak encourages more people to take up other opportunities to hear the voices of prisoners.

“Our forum on women in prisons highlights that we need to think carefully about how prisons impact differently on vulnerable groups, such as women,” says JustSpeak administrator, Lacey Blass. “As the Government undertakes a rethink of its approach to justice issues, it must not shy away from fundamental issues such as whether our prison system is serving women adequately.”

JustSpeak is calling for policy makers to engage further with women and young people, so that their voices can be heard in the formation of new policy around such issues. Too often those formulating policy neglect to consult those affected by policy. JustSpeak hopes to help end that trend and welcomes engagement by politicians and other interested parties who want to hear from young people.

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