This inspection builds on two previous inspections on service delivery for women. In 2011, HM Inspectorate of Probation, together with HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate and HM Inspectorate of Prisons, completed a joint thematic inspection Equal but different? An inspection of the use of alternatives to custody for women offenders. This measured the progress being made by probation trusts in implementing the Corston recommendations. The inspection found that: ‘although a great deal had been achieved, provision for women varied considerably and was inconsistent’. Our last inspection of probation services for women, published in 2016, considered the work of the Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) and the National Probation Service (NPS). Since then, probation services have unified, which means that the Probation Service is now responsible for managing people on probation at all risk levels and delivering accredited programmes and interventions. In addition, since our last inspection, a number of significant publications have set out expectations for how prison and probation services should deliver services for women.

Report: The quality of work undertaken with women (PDF, 925 kB)

Cymraeg: Ansawdd gwaith a wneir gyda menywod (PDF, 942 kB)

Press release: New report from HM Inspectorate of Probation calls for renewed action to support women in the criminal justice system

Effective practice: Working with Women (PDF, 1 MB)

User Voice: Women on Probation (PDF, 1 MB)

HM Inspectorate of Prisons: Survey Analysis (Spreadsheet, 61 kB)

Action plan: Thematic review of quality of work undertaken with women

Presentation slides: The quality of work undertaken with women (PDF, 2 MB)