Birth Behind Bars

May 28, 2024
Birth Behind Bars

Recent deaths of babies born in custody have sparked calls to further limit or prohibit the incarceration of pregnant offenders.

As of 1 April 2024, most offence-specific sentencing guidelines include a dedicated mitigating factor: ‘pregnancy, childbirth and post-natal care’. Read more: [Sentencing Council]

Zoë Chapman has written an opinion piece for New Law Journal which examines whether the new mitigating factor is enough to protect the rights and safety of pregnant and post-natal offenders and whether the measures go far enough.

Read more: [New Law Journal ]