NWJC co-hosts parliamentary roundtable on maternal imprisonment

On 28 January 2025, the National Women’s Justice Coalition co-hosted a roundtable discussion on the topic of maternal imprisonment in partnership with Birth Companions and Crest Advisory, a crime and justice focused consultancy and think tank, to discuss ways to improve the criminal justice system’s response to mothers and pregnant women. The event was chaired by Carolyn Harris MP.

The event began with presentations from Crest Advisory, on the cost of maternal imprisonment; Birth Companions, on the need for a different approach to pregnancy and early motherhood in the CJS; and National Women’s Justice Coalition, on partnership working and
how the whole systems approach improves outcomes for women and girls.

The event was well attended by representatives from across the voluntary community sector, justice sector, MoJ and HMPPS, NHS Health & Justice, the NPCC, DfE and members of the Women’s Justice Board.

A briefing document summarising the key themes of the presentations and discussions has been shared with all attendees and will be sent to the Women’s Justice Board and policymakers also.

Read the summary here.