Exploring the policy context, evidence, and priorities for change for pregnant women and mothers of infants under the age of two on probation supervision
Pregnant women and mothers of infants under the age of two in contact with the criminal justice system are a small but highly marginalised g roup, facing complex and acute challenges.
For 30 years, Birth Companions has been working to drive better care, equity and justice for women and babies impacted by this system.
Over the past decade we have seen a welcome increase inattention paid to the needs and experiences – and to the policies and practices that shape them – of pregnant women and mothers in prison. And we have witnessed, as a result, a growing consensus that the imprisonment of this cohort of women is unacceptable.
As we now look to a hopefully near future – in which Sentencing Act (2026) changes should lead to far fewer women in prison – it is vital that probation services can recognise and meet the needs of mothers and their children, and address the risks associated with pregnancy and early motherhood. Currently, they are equipped for neither.
In our latest Spotlight report, the Birth Companions Institute shines a light on the policy context, evidence, and priorities for change that are now more urgent than ever, to ensure care, equity and justice for pregnant women and mothers of infants on probation supervision.
