Shona Minson appointed to the new Women’s Justice Board

Shona Minson, Associate at the Centre for Criminology, who conducted her research at the centre into the effect of maternal incarceration on children, has been appointed to the newly created Women’s Justice Board.

The Board was launched on 21 January 2025 by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and will be chaired by Prisons Minister James Timpson. It brings together criminal justice experts to identify better ways to stop women committing crimes and make streets safer as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.

The board aims to reduce the number of women in prison, cut reoffending, and better support children. It is estimated that 17,000 children are affected every year when a mother is sent to prison.

Having worked as a criminal and family barrister Shona has a particular interest in sentencing, the purpose of punishment and the rights of children impacted by their parents’ involvement with the criminal justice system. She has produced films and briefing papers about the impact of custodial sentences on dependent children, and delivers training on the impact of parental imprisonment to criminal justice and legal professionals including judiciary  in the UK and internationally.

Her research has influenced sentencing guidelines and she frequently contributes to discussions in the media about the sentencing of women.

She said of her appointment ‘I am delighted and honoured to have been appointed to the Women’s Justice Board. I welcome the commitment of the Lord Chancellor and the Prisons Minister to addressing the overuse of imprisonment of women and look forward to working with the experts on the Board, and the women’s justice sector as a whole, to improve justice for women in England and Wales.’