These women are not the dangerous criminals one might imagine, but often sad victims of circumstance and violence- more than half have been victims of domestic violence, a third have experienced sexual abuse, and 25% have been in care as children. Two-thirds of women in prison have dependent children under 18; of these, just one in 20 remain in their own home once their mother has been sentenced.
For these women, prison is not effective in cutting crime; 64.3% of women released from prison in 2004 were reconvicted within two years of release.
Prison is also not safe; between 2004-2008 self-harm incidents went up by 42% in female prisons. Despite women constituting only 5% of the overall prison population, they commit over 50% of all self-harm.
The Lost Daughters campaign has two stories at its heart: One daughter lost, one daughter saved.
Sarah was 18 and died within 24 hours of arriving at Styal prison. The response to her overdose was slow and she died in hospital.
Susan was imprisoned after a deeply traumatic childhood and severe self injury left her in a life threatening condition. The Howard League obtained an emergency injunction that moved her from prison to a secure hospital. She was one of the lucky ones.
This year already three women have died in prison by their own hand. We don’t want any more Lost Daughters.
The Lost Daughters campaign aims are:
- preventing the deaths of women in prison;
- raising awareness of our concerns and views on women and girls in the penal system;
- implementing the recommendation of the Corston Report: a review of women with particular vulnerabilities in the criminal justice system.
NUS National Women’s Officer, Olivia Bailey, said: ‘This is an excellent campaign, highlighting an issue that doesn’t get talked about anyway near enough. I urge you to get involved to help women like Susan and Sarah’
How you can help