Lords Committee takes evidence on female leadership in HM Prison Service
The Justice and Home Affairs Committee is holding its seventh evidence session as part of its inquiry on prison culture.
Meeting details
At 10:30am: Oral evidence
Inquiry
Prison culture: governance, leadership and staffing
Professor of Applied Criminology at University of Derby
The Justice and Home Affairs Committee continues its inquiry into prison culture: governance, leadership and staffing. Today it will be taking evidence from former leaders in HM Prison Service on the role of prison governors, the experience of women governors working in men’s prisons and in women’s prisons, and attitudes within the Service towards female operational staff.
Possible Questions include:
- What is the role of a prison governor?
- What are the qualities needed to be a leader in a women’s prison, and are they different from those needed for leaders (men and women) working in men’s prisons?
- Has the attitude towards women in operational roles in the prison service changed in recent years?
- What is more important in shaping attitudes – the culture of a particular prison or the culture of HM Prison Service as a whole?
- How has the culture of the prison service been affected by changes in its overall governance?
- Are women leaders in the prison service well supported?
- Are there particular challenges associated with the retention of female staff, particularly at prison officer level?
- What are the challenges for the prison service when looking after women prisoners?