Kenny MacAskill, Justice Secretary, joined South West Scotland Community Justice Authority and Barnardo’s Scotland, on 7 June 2010, at the launch of their new service in Ayrshire, Women in Focus. The service works with women offenders to reduce their levels of reoffending and reconviction; reduce the levels of breached Community Based Orders and help them make a positive contribution to their local community.

This innovative service works with young women from East, North and South Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway who are currently serving Community Based Orders. Women in Focus is the only service in Scotland which tackles this problem.

The service was commissioned by South West Scotland Community Justice Authority after results from an earlier pilot, run in Ayrshire, proved highly successful. Outcomes from the pilot showed the number of women who successfully completed their Community Orders more than doubled and reoffending levels were significantly lower. In the first year there was a reduction in breach rates for orders from 37% to 14.5%. Early indicators for Women in Focus show that the service is already showing similar significant improvements in all of its target areas.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: “I recognise that women offenders tend to be more disadvantaged than their male counterparts, particularly in terms of addiction, mental health problems and even having been the victims of abuse. They therefore need access to multiple services and forms of support in order to reduce reconviction rates.

“This particular pilot project will help rebuild lives by giving the women involved opportunities to identify and develop their skills, to gain confidence in their abilities and develop a personal sense of worth.

“I commend Barnardo’s Scotland, South West Scotland CJA and its partner local authorities and other key agencies for delivering this very valuable support to the women involved. This work can have a lasting and positive impact for them and their families.”

North Ayrshire Councillor Peter McNamara, Convenor of South West Scotland Community Justice Authority, said:

"Women offenders are one of the priority groups identified within the South West Scotland Community Justice Area Plan 2008/11. The aim is to meet the offending needs of women and reduce imprisonment levels for non-violent offending.

In 2008/09 women accounted for 19 percent of those serving Community Service Orders in the South West Scotland area, compared with 15 percent across Scotland.

It is important that, within the South West Scotland area, we note the challenge facing these women in order for them to take their place with their families, their friends, and have their particular needs addressed, whether that be addiction, housing, employment or training.

The key objectives are to reduce the levels of breach and imprisonment levels, reduce the rates of reconviction and re-offending, and to provide effective, positive community integration."

Martin Crewe, Director of Barnardo’s Scotland, said:
“The women we work with in Women in Focus have a range of problems, often severe and long term. Many of them have suffered physical or sexual abuse, bereavement, loss or poor parenting. These experiences can lead to chaotic lifestyles and criminal behaviour. Our support offers practical solutions and emotional support, which enable them to tackle their problems and their offending behaviour.

Although our primary focus is intervention with the women, a significant number of them have children. Barnardo’s Scotland works with these families to ensure that the emotional wellbeing and safety of the children is also addressed.”

Women serving Community Based Orders are referred to Women in Focus by their local Criminal Justice Supervising Officer. The service helps young women to comply with their orders by giving them constant support and practical help which includes how to comply with their order; help to avoid reconviction; information about budgeting and social skills to enable them to sustain family links. Through this package of support women are in a stronger position to regain control over their lives.

Women who have completed their Community Based Orders with the support of Women in Focus have significantly reduced their offending behaviour and increased their opportunities to contribute towards their own communities.