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08/02/2016

Call To Rethink Treatment Of Pregnant Women In Prison

Prime Minister David Cameron has said a rethink is needed regarding the treatment of pregnant women in prison. The reforms would extend to female prisoners with babies, and include tagging, problem-solving courts, and alternative resettlement units.

Mr Cameron said an "urgent" rethink was needed after latest figures show 100 babies were living inside a prison with their mother following birth last year.

He said the reforms would be to ensure the babies "get the best possible start in life", and would look at alternative ways to deal with female prisoners after their baby is born.Currently, when a pregnant woman gives birth while serving a custodial sentence, she is usually transferred to a prison's mother and baby unit (MBU) for an initial period. MBU policy requires that these units should be available to accommodate babies up until the age of 18 months.

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However, under the new proposed measures, the government will consider whether alternative measures could be employed to deal with female offenders, including problem-solving courts and alternative resettlement units in some cases.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "It is absolutely terrible to think that some babies are spending the earliest months – even years – of their lives behind bars.

"Prison staff do their best to make these environments pleasant. Some units even have special sensory rooms, so that babies can see colours, sights and sound – even nature – that they wouldn't ever otherwise see inside the grey walls of a jail.

"There are actually women in these prisons who were born in the same prison 20 years earlier, and then have ended up there later as criminals themselves. Think of the damage done to the life chances of these children. It's time to think seriously about whether this is the right approach.

"We've got to break this cycle. So I want us to find alternative ways of dealing with women prisoners with babies, including tagging, problem-solving courts and alternative resettlement units."

(JP/LM)

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"Prime Minister David Cameron has said a rethink is needed regarding the treatment of pregnant women in prison."