Perspectives One solution to the imbalance in the number of men and women appearing before the courts has been to provide bail and probation accommodation in mixed hostels but the appropriateness of this practice has been questioned in recent inspection reports. Emma Wincup, Research Student and Tutor at the School of Social and Administrative Studies, University of Wales, Cardiff, draws on the views of hostel workers and female residents in three hostels to argue that mixed provision presents a number of challenges in guaranteeing privacy, safety and equality of service for female residents. She suggests the need for a more flexible system which respects individual choice.
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References
1.
HMIP Report on Women Offenders and Probation Service Provision, Home Office, 1991; HMIP Approved Probation and Bail Hostels: Report of a Thematic Inspection, Home Office, 1993.
2.
Buckley, K. 'Why We Should Keep Women's Hostels', Social Work Today , 19, 1987.
3.
Merchant, D. 'Gender: a Management Perspective', in P. Senior and B. Williams, Values Gender and Offending, PAVIC, 1993.
