Part of 2. Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution – in the Senedd at 2:46 pm on 1 March 2023.
Thank you. You raise a number of really important issues. Those issues go to the nub of the reason why we need justice devolved to us. I've worked very closely, as you know, with the Minister for Social Justice, and, of course, we were visitors to Eastwood Park prison recently. I suppose what matters—. It is, of course, of concern in terms of the awareness within the magistracy of the blueprint. But, of course, that awareness of the blueprint isn't the key determinant in itself. What is important is the understanding of the various opportunities and options that there are in terms of sentencing itself.
Clearly, there is ongoing engagement with the judiciary, I think, to help them understand the impact of regressive and unnecessary short sentences. I know the Minister for Social Justice has quoted this and I've said it several times: when we were at Eastwood Park prison, the director of the prison informed us that every woman in that prison was a victim. That in itself, I think, highlights the nature of the way we've gone down the imprisonment road, as opposed to the problem-solving road and the justice road.
The women's justice blueprint leads have delivered a series of engagement events for sentencers, focused on raising awareness and confidence in the community-based options for women amongst sentencers, legal advisers and key court decision makers. Over 270 individuals have been reached through this work, which has also been supported by His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service. So, that process of engagement is ongoing.