Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Oral Answers to Questions

Antoinette Sandbach Excerpts
Tuesday 8th March 2016

(8 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Antoinette Sandbach Portrait Antoinette Sandbach (Eddisbury) (Con)
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Research by the Prison Reform Trust shows that female prisoners are far more likely to receive custodial sentences even when they have no previous convictions or cautions. What interventions are being used at the sentencing stage to keep women out of prison?

Caroline Dinenage Portrait Caroline Dinenage
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Sentencing is a matter entirely for the courts, and they take into account the circumstances not only of the offence but of the offender. As the Prime Minister set out in a speech earlier in the year, we are also looking into how tagging, problem-solving courts and alternative resettlement units can support us to deal appropriately with female offenders, especially where children are involved.