29 Oct 2021
On Thursday 28 October, the Ministry of Justice released new figures on deaths of offenders in the community from 2020 to 2021.
These figures show that in 2020-21 women accounted for 14% of the total number of self-inflicted deaths for people on post-release supervision after a custodial sentence. Women who have been in prison not only make up a disproportionate number of self-inflicted deaths in the community, but this is also a trend that has been steadily increasing since 2017. In all but one year since 2015, self-inflicted deaths have been the most common cause of death for women who have been in prison and are now living in the community.
On the increase in self-inflicting deaths, Maithreyi Rajeshkumar Policy Manager at Agenda, the alliance for women and girls at risk, says:
“This is a deeply worrying trend perpetuating the significant trauma and harm prison can cause for women. The majority of women in prison are survivors of trauma and abuse, often beginning in childhood. Without adequate mental health support, many women and girls returning to the community are re-traumatised and at crisis point. Instead of spending more money on prison places, as yesterday’s Spending Review highlighted, the government must invest in the specialist services that support women and prevent offending.”