The Corston Report (2007) highlighted the failings of the Criminal Justice System (CJS) in meeting the specific and unique needs of the vulnerable women held within it, the impact of which has seen a relative wealth of research exploring the female experience when it comes to the CJS.
However, what has had substantially less attention is the experiences of those who supervise these women. This has particularly been the case for women supervising women on Probation. Within Kent, Surrey & Sussex Community Rehabilitation Company (KSS CRC), the Women’s Strategy places female probation staff as central to an effective women-led service. Therefore, as part of a robust evaluation of that strategy, a close examination of the ‘Women’s Lead’ role was seen as a priority. In particular, the routes into and challenges of being a Women’s Lead, the necessity of women-led provision, the personal and professional impact of undertaking such a role, and what staff feel needs to happen in future to make the role more sustainable.
