Two high-profile baby deaths in two women’s prisons in 2019 and 2020, and a public campaign by Level Up, have brought the serious risks faced by incarcerated pregnant women into sharp focus, with all pregnancies in prison now categorised by NHS England and the Ministry of Justice as “high-risk.”

A new mitigating factor for pregnancy and the postnatal period has been introduced by the Sentencing Council and a rapidly growing body of appellate case law is underscoring the importance of alternatives to immediate imprisonment to protect women and dependent children from the risks and harms of prison.

A new legal toolkit, co-authored by Level Up and Maya Sikand KC, Pippa Woodrow and Hannah Smith from Doughty Street Chambers, equips lawyers with the core legal arguments, tools and resources to effectively represent pregnant women and mothers of infants at all stages of the criminal justice process. It also includes the key prison law issues that incarcerated pregnant women and mothers face.

Join us to explore the right to life, family life, liberty and security, fair trial and discrimination issues that arise when representing pregnant women and mothers of dependent children in the criminal justice system. We will provide practical tips on what needs to be done to bring a true human rights approach to decisions on sentencing, mitigation, bail and appeals against sentence.

The event will be Chaired by Maya Sikand KC, and we will hear from Charlie, who will share her lived experience of being pregnant in prison, Pippa Woodrow and Janey Starling (Co-director, Level Up), toolkit co-authors, and Dr Shona Minson, academic expert on maternal imprisonment and member of the newly formed Women’s Justice Board.

Date: 5 March 2025

Time: 6-7pm followed by networking drinks.

Location: Doughy Street Chambers

Link to sign up: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/human-rights-of-pregnant-women-mothers-and-children-in-the-justice-system-tickets-1227445726209?aff=oddtdtcreator