Treatment of pregnant women in prison to be reviewed

The prime minister has called for an urgent rethink of how pregnant women are treated in jail after figures emerged showing that 100 babies spent time living in prison last year.  David Cameron has vowed to look at alternative ways to deal with female prisoners after their baby is born, including the use of problem-solving courts and satellite tagging technology to ensure that these babies get the best possible start in life.

‘It is absolutely terrible to think that some babies are spending the earliest months – even years – of their lives behind bars. 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,’ said Mr Cameron.

At present, when a pregnant woman gives birth while serving a custodial sentence, she is usually transferred to a prison’s mother and baby unit for an initial period.  These mother and baby units should be able to accommodate babies up until 18 months of age.  The government will consider whether alternative measures could present a better solution.

The PM has also confirmed that a major pilot of satellite tracking technology is set to launch later this year.

RCM director for England Jacque Gerrard welcomed the announcement.  She said that the imprisonment of pregnant women and those with newborn babies should only be used as a last resort.

For more details on this story, see the RCM report here