Background
The Young Women in the Criminal Justice System Project is a 12 month, youth-led programme that will empower 10 young females (aged 16-25) to inform and influence how the police engages with young females with mental health problems while being users of the criminal justice system.
It has been 3 years since Baroness Corston’s report (Home Office, 2007) on women in the criminal justice system. One of the gaps identified was the lack of support for girls and young women in the criminal justice system with mental health problems. In addition, the London Criminal Justice Partnership (LCJP) and Youth Justice Board, who are carrying out a review of the criminal justice system, have identified a gap in knowledge on the experience of girls and young women in the criminal justice system.
Project aims
The project’s girls and women will receive IARS training and support to enable them to engage with other females who suffer from mental health issues and are currently in the criminal justice system, or who have recently been subjected to a criminal justice process (e.g. prosecuted for alcohol abuse, prostitution, drugs).
The aim of this process is threefold:
Firstly, by empowering some of the most marginalised users of the criminal justice system (young females with mental health issues) the project will create a youth-led, evidence base for policy making and practice for the MPS in Tower Hamlets and Hackney, and the MPA in working with young females (victims or offenders) with mental health problems.
Second, to construct a pioneering and innovative model of engagement with this community that is replicable in other areas and by others. This model will enable police to engage with the target group as well as help to effectively spot and support girls and women with mental health problems through a community based, evidence based approach.
Thirdly, IARS and Together UK will support the project’s girls and women to work directly with local police forces in Tower Hamlets and Hackney to improve practice and highlight to other boroughs how they can adopt the project’s findings and model.
Current activities
Volunteer recruitment and training
In June 2011 a group of 16 young women aged 16-25 were recruited to volunteer on this project. These young women were recruited through our diverse referral network including Kids Company, Westminster Kingsway College, Volunteer Centre Lambeth, Do-it.org and Vinspired. All volunteers received training in Research Methods and Human Rights in order to provide them with the skills and knowledge required for the project.
Design of research tool
The group of volunteers worked closely with our research associate, Matina Marougka , to design interview questions based on young women's experiences of police custody, specially their emotional and physical health needs.
Fieldwork
Since October 2011 the volunteers have been conducting interviews with young women about their experiences of the criminal justice system. The young women who are being interviewed for the project are being referred by Youth Offending teams, the probation service and a variety of voluntary sector organisations, which work with young people.
Recruiting young women to participate in interviews has been a slow process, however, we are looking to complete all interviews by the end of March 2012. A report will then be written detailing our findings, which will be fed back to the Metropolitan Police.
THE RECRUITMENT OF VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS PROJECT HAS NOW CLOSED
Project related news
January 2012 - IARS gives evidence to All Party Parliamentary Group on young girls in the criminal justice system
August 2011 - Young Women in the Criminal Justice System Project: Call for research participants in Hackney and Tower Hamlets
July 2011 - Diary of an IARS Research Volunteer: Session Two, by Meghan Bidwell
July 2011 - Diary of an IARS Research Volunteer: Session One, by Meghan Bidwell
April 2011 - IARS is currently recruiting for its ‘Young Women in the Criminal Justice System’ project
December 2010 - IARS receives funding from the Metropolitan Police Authority for project on girls in the criminal justice system
This project is funded by the Metropolitan Police Authority and the Big Lottery Fund.
