Differential treatments for male and female prisoners in England and Wales: Where does inequality end and where does equality begin?
Evidence suggests that women in England and wales commit fewer crimes than men in the same region. According to this evidence, the number of female prisoners in England and Wales is about 4000 compared to the number of male prisoners in the same region which is over 70000. Based on these figures, policy makers are trying to reward few female offenders by proposing a scheme called the “Local Resettlement Programme for female offenders”. The local resettlement programme for female offenders involves accommodating female prisoners in local prisons rather than in distant places. It is argued that female prisoners who spend their custodial sentence within this setting can maintain family bond with their loved ones as well as enhance their chances of getting a job on release. Any effort to ensure that prisoners do not suffer more than their punishment could allow including allowing female offenders to spend their time under the local resettlement programme should be welcomed. However,