Criminal justice

As part of Volunteers' week, Denise Marshall, one of Birth Companions’ founders, reflects on the importance of volunteers at Birth Companions.

Denise Marshall, one of Birth Companions’ founders who retired this year after three decades at the charity, traces its journey.

A member of Birth Companions Lived Experience Team reflects on the process of co-designing a new tool to help understand the impacts of criminal justice involvement on pregnant women, mothers and their babies.

Naomi Delap, Birth Companions CEO, reflects on the Women’s Justice Board’s recommendations for reducing women’s imprisonment

Birth Companions welcomes the PPO's landmark inquiry into the use of restraints during pregnancy and birth, but warns it risks failing the very women it is meant to protect.

A milestone in the fight to end the imprisonment of pregnant women and mothers of infants.

Bhatt Murphy and Birth Companions hold serious concerns about the national investigation into the use of restraints during pregnancy and birth, being undertaken by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.

The Sentencing Bill has received Royal Assent, marking a significant moment in Birth Companions' long campaign to end the imprisonment of pregnant women and mothers of infants.

Film screening and panel discussion with MPs, filmmakers and women with lived experience calls for urgent systems change and trauma-informed support.

Film screening and panel discussion on maternal imprisonment and children’s social care reform, with MPs and filmmakers, just a few days before it goes onto BBC iPlayer.

Proposals to 'name and shame' those carrying out community sentences prioritise optics over outcomes.

Reflections on a recent BBC Ideas short film, from a mother previously supported by Birth Companions.

Welcome recognition of the unique and complex health needs of pregnant women and mothers of infants in prison and on probation.

A response to the Sentencing Bill from the Birth Companions Institute

Focusing on the needs and experiences of women who are separated from their infants due to imprisonment

Creating a criminal justice system that works for women

Birth Companions' submission to the Government's Sentencing Review 2024-2025 call for evidence

Our response to the Sentencing Council's new mitigating factor for pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period

Understanding the needs and experiences of women in contact with the criminal justice and children’s social care systems during pregnancy and early motherhood

Understanding the needs and experiences of pregnant women and new mothers in contact with the criminal justice system in the community in England.

Coordinated programme of work to achieve an ambitious new approach to pregnancy, birth and early motherhood across the whole criminal justice system

Birth Companions takes part in HM Prison & Probation Service's (HMPPS) Think Child Campaign with a session on pregnancy and early motherhood in the criminal justice system.