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In this discussion, Sara Ciucci , Roz Morrison and Julie Eden-Barnard discuss the important topic of women in the criminal justice system. This conversation, part of the Newsdesk 2024 initiative by the International Network for Criminal Justice (IN-CJ), features Sara moderating a panel with Roz and Julie, both senior lecturers at De Montfort University.
The discussion focuses on the distinct experiences and challenges faced by women within the criminal justice system, both as offenders and as professionals. Roz and Julie draw on their backgrounds in probation and academia to highlight the differences between male and female experiences in this field. They emphasise the need for a gender-responsive and trauma-informed approach, acknowledging that women’s pathways into and out of offending are often influenced by relational trauma and other gender-specific factors.
One main concern is the ongoing gap in implementing research findings to create more supportive environments for women. The panellists discuss the benefits of female-only programmes, which provide safe spaces for relational repair and mutual support among women.
Additionally, the conversation addresses the barriers women face in advancing their careers within criminal justice organisations. Morrison and Eden-Barnard note that systemic changes are needed to accommodate women’s familial and caregiving responsibilities, which often hinder their professional progression.
The discussion concludes with a call for all criminal justice professionals to be aware of and respond to gender-specific issues. By fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment, the system can better meet the needs of women, both those involved in the criminal justice process and those working within it.
This dialogue highlights the current state of women in criminal justice and underscores the importance of continued research and practical application of gender-responsive practices to create a more equitable system.
Women in Criminal Justice: Addressing Unique Challenges
What are the distinctive challenges faced by women in criminal justice, both as practitioners and as service users? This question guided the IN-CJ Newsdesk 2024 discussion, chaired by Sara Ciucci with guests Roz Morrison and Julie Eden Barnard of De Montfort University. Drawing on their experiences in probation and academia, the speakers reflected on research, practice, and the barriers women continue to face within criminal justice systems.
Morrison highlighted her career-long focus on women in probation, noting that despite decades of research, many findings on women’s needs remain unimplemented. She argued that services still fail to account adequately for gender differences, leaving systemic issues unaddressed. Barnard added that women’s experiences of justice cannot be understood without acknowledging gendered differences in pathways into and out of offending, often rooted in relational trauma. She stressed that gender-responsive and trauma-informed practices must be pursued together, rather than treating trauma in isolation from women’s lived experiences.
The conversation turned to barriers faced by women working in criminal justice. Both speakers described how family commitments, caring responsibilities, and rigid organisational structures continue to hinder women’s career progression. Intersectionality, they noted, compounds these challenges, particularly for women from marginalised backgrounds. They called for workplaces that acknowledge and respond to women’s experiences, creating opportunities for genuine dialogue and co-creation of supportive professional environments.
On practice, the panel underlined the value of women-only programmes and safe spaces. Such environments allow women to build positive relationships with peers and staff, essential for healing and rehabilitation. These spaces, they argued, provide opportunities for relational repair to counterbalance the relational harm that so often shapes women’s offending. They also discussed the role of male practitioners, stressing that responsibility for supporting women cannot rest with a few specialists but must be shared across organisations through gender awareness and trauma-informed practice.
Finally, the panel noted positive developments in research. They pointed to a growing body of feminist scholarship that centres women’s voices, embraces co-design and participatory methods, and challenges the traditional frameworks of knowledge creation. By amplifying marginalised voices and grounding theory in practice, this research contributes not only to better understanding but also to practical change. As Morrison concluded, “research that involves lived experience is research that matters.”