Tina was just 16 when she says she was forced into marriage. What followed, she recalls, were decades of “relentless” abuse, including being punched in the face and having her head slammed into a wall. After enduring years of violence, a divorce that caused her family to cut ties, and a descent into addiction and depression, she now finds herself serving a six-year sentence for importing Class A drugs. Speaking from HMP Send in Surrey, she admits she made serious mistakes but feels “grateful” to have been arrested before her life deteriorated further. Tina is one of 243 women held at HMP Send, a prison where most inmates are serving time for non-violent crimes. Staff say the majority have previously suffered domestic abuse. While Tina credits the prison with helping her “become a better version” of herself, she believes many of the interventions she received could have been provided in the community.
The government has signalled a major shift away from sending non-violent offenders, particularly women, to prison for short sentences. In 2020, nearly three-quarters of women in custody were imprisoned for non-violent offences. Prisons Minister Lord Timpson told the BBC that “far too many women” incarcerated today are victims of domestic violence, calling for evidence-based policies that stop vulnerable offenders from re-entering the cycle of crime. New legislation expected next year will sharply reduce the use of short custodial sentences and expand community-based punishments. Ministers argue the reforms will lower reoffending rates, reduce pressure on prisons, and prevent children from entering the care system when mothers are jailed.
Daily Life at HMP Send
HMP Send sits in rural Surrey, six miles from Woking, behind barbed-wire fencing and cream-coloured metal walls. But inside, the site feels more like a college campus, with grass patches and quieter cell blocks compared to large Victorian men’s prisons. Women are housed across six units for a wide range of offences, from fraud and drug importation to firearm possession and homicide. Twenty-five-year-old Behnaz, serving a five-year sentence for possessing a firearm, says imprisonment often adds new trauma rather than removing it. While she accepts responsibility for her actions, she believes rehabilitation is harder behind bars.
Trauma, Domestic Abuse and Brain Injury Support
Across England and Wales, there are 3,477 women in prison — just 4% of the overall population. According to the Prison Reform Trust, 72% were serving sentences for non-violent offences in 2020, while Ministry of Justice data shows more than half report being victims of domestic abuse. Some have experienced non-fatal strangulation or repeated blows to the head, leading to untreated brain injuries that can impair judgement. HMP Send is one of the few UK prisons with a dedicated programme for women suffering from brain injuries linked to domestic violence, delivered in partnership with the charity Brainkind. Tanya Marsden, a residential supervising officer, says building trust can be difficult when certain triggers — particularly interactions with male staff — cause distress for survivors.
Debate Over Who Should Be Imprisoned
Lord Timpson argues that prison is inappropriate for many abused women serving short sentences, especially when their imprisonment pushes children into the care system and increases the likelihood of reoffending. Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick agrees that alternatives are vital for pregnant women, mothers of young children, and domestic abuse victims, but insists “hyper-prolific offenders” must remain behind bars regardless of gender. Imprisoning one woman costs the taxpayer more than £52,000 per year, and supporters of the reforms say the financial case for community sentences is clear. But critics warn that community support services — including probation, mental health, addiction and trauma programmes — are already overstretched. Probation officers privately say workloads are at maximum levels, raising concerns about whether vulnerable women will receive the help they need. Some inmates also question whether reduced sentencing might weaken deterrence. One prisoner asked whether offenders might be “more likely to commit crime or be coerced into it” if they believe imprisonment is unlikely.
Risk of Reoffending Remains High
The charity Women in Prison reports that 56% of women released from custody reoffend within a year, underscoring the challenge for policymakers. Alida, who is serving a sentence for serious fraud, believes some women take responsibility for their actions, while others do not. She argues that accountability must remain central to sentencing decisions. With major sentencing reforms on the horizon, the government faces a complex balance: recognising the vulnerability of women in custody, cutting reoffending, protecting the public, and ensuring the justice system delivers fair consequences.
