Women’s Justice
Submission to Ministry of Justice “Murder sentencing consultation” – Women’s Justice
Submission to Ministry of Justice “Murder sentencing consultation” women who kill APPEAL /// March 2024 The Women’s Justice Initiative is deeply concerned about the Ministry of Justice’s proposal to increase the starting point for murders committed with a knife. Alongside other proposals in the consultation, it is likely to have unintended and serious consequences…
Read MoreLizzie Donoghue
Lizzi donoghue ‘junk’ forensic science landed mother of three in jail for husband’s killing Mother of three Lizzi Donoghue was convicted on the basis of flawed forensic evidence “It’s like a bad dream…I just want my mum out.” – Helen, Lizzi’s eldest daugter On the evening of 23 April 2004, Elizabeth Donoghue was upstairs in…
Read MoreRighting Wrongs – Barriers to women seeking justice
Righting Wrongs What are the barriers to women seeking to overturn unsafe convictions or unfair sentences in the court of appeal (criminal division) Appeals to the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) have dropped by 36% from 2011 to 2019. Recent research has highlighted the particular vulnerabilities of women in prison, leading to concerns women may…
Read MoreSystem snares just for women
System snares, just for women APPEAL’s Camille Wrightson dives into our latest policy reform efforts to make sentences for women facing disadvantage fairer APPEAL’s specialist women’s justice lawyers use strategic litigation to appeal sentences and convictions for women experiencing severe disadvantage in the criminal justice system; women who are victims of domestic abuse, whose…
Read MoreTV Licensing FAQs
Are you being prosecuted for not paying your TV licence? We may be able to help… If you or anyone you know has been or is being prosecuted or threatened with prosecution for not paying their TV licence, we may be able to help. You can find general information on this issue via our…
Read MoreEnding council tax imprisonment
End Council Tax Imprisonment Poverty is Not a Crime As hard as it is to believe, between 2010 and 2017, nearly 700 people were sent to prison for not paying their council tax. Many have not defaulted on their debt voluntarily – they found themselves unable to pay due to a lack of resources. APPEAL…
Read MoreTV Licensing must stop prosecuting people in genuine hardship
TV Licensing must stop prosecuting people in genuine hardship Josiane handing in a petition to John Whittingdale, Minister in the Department for Culture Media and Sport, along with her local MP Stephen Metcalfe. As energy prices skyrocket and poverty is on the rise, it has never been more important to stop criminalising those in…
Read MorePoverty is not a crime: ending imprisonment for debt
Poverty is not a crime: ending imprisonment for debt Did you know that you can end up in prison for owing council tax or for not paying the TV licence fines? Shocking but true. Furthermore, the criminalisation of debt is an issue that disproportionately affects women. In 2020, 75 per cent of all prosecutions for…
Read MoreSubmission on Sentencing Council “Imposition of community and custodial sentences guideline”
Submission to Sentencing Council Imposition of community and custodial sentences guideline APPEAL /// february 2023 The Women’s Justice Initiative supports the Sentencing Council’s proposal to introduce a new section on female offenders, but stresses the often causative relationship between women’s offending and the domestic abuse including coercive control they experience. Download this report as…
Read MoreSubmission to Sentencing Council “Miscellaneous amendments to sentencing guidelines”
Submission to Sentencing Council “Miscellaneous amendments to sentencing guidelines” APPEAL /// November 2023 The Women’s Justice Initiative provides our views on the Sentencing Council’s proposals to amend different sentencing guidelines, including relating to coercive control in manslaughter cases and pregnant defendants. Download this report as a PDF Download Response to the Crime Lower Consultation…
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