Justice Minister today announced a new Bail
Support Pilot Scheme for women in Belfast and Ballymena, helping
eligible women on remand to safely remain in the community while
awaiting trial.
The pilot scheme will provide a safe, structured and supported
alternative to custody for eligible women on remand, helping them
maintain accommodation, family connections and access to support
services while progressing through the criminal justice
system. It will aim to support approximately 20 women at
any one time, with accommodation provision becoming available by
April 2027.
Justice Minister said: "Too many women in the
justice system have experienced trauma, poor mental health,
addiction, domestic abuse or other significant challenges.
For some, a short period on remand can disrupt housing, family
relationships, employment and support networks, often making it
harder to address the issues that brought them into contact with
the justice system.
"This new Bail Support Pilot Scheme will provide eligible women
with the practical and emotional support they need to live safely
in the community while awaiting trial. Through a dedicated bail
support worker, women will receive tailored, trauma-informed
support designed to help them address underlying needs and build
stability in their lives.
"By intervening earlier and providing appropriate support in the
community, we have an opportunity to reduce harm, improve
outcomes for women and their families, and enhance community
safety. Strong partnership working between criminal justice
agencies, the judiciary and voluntary sector organisations will
be central to the success of this pilot."
Minister Long added: This pilot represents an important step
towards a more responsive and effective approach for women in the
justice system. I want to thank all partners involved in
its development and delivery, and I look forward to seeing the
positive impact it can make for women, families and communities.
Depaul and Niacro will deliver the bail support service in
partnership, while the Probation Board for Northern Ireland will
provide the court liaison function.
Fiona Greene, Chief Executive of Niacro, said: This marks an
important new chapter for Niacro and reflects our commitment to
supporting women in the justice system at critical points in
their lives. By helping women remain safely in the community
while addressing the challenges they face, the service aims to
reduce the disruption that remand can have on individuals,
families and communities, while improving longer-term outcomes.
We are pleased to be delivering this pilot in partnership with
Depaul and look forward to working closely with the Department of
Justice, the Probation Board and other partners to make a real
difference.
Deirdre Canavan, Deputy Director, Depaul Northern Ireland said:
"We are delighted to be involved in the Women's Bail Support
Scheme. For many years, we have seen first-hand the impact that
housing insecurity can have on women involved in the criminal
justice system. Safe, stable accommodation can be the foundation
for rebuilding a life, and we are proud to be working in
partnership with the Department of Justice, Niacro and the
Probation Board to make that possible."
Stephen Hamilton, Director of Operations for the Probation Board
for Northern Ireland, added: The Probation Board welcomes the
introduction of this innovative Bail Support Pilot for women.
Through our court liaison role, our staff will work closely with
the courts and partner organisations to provide information to
support judicial decision-making and help ensure that women can
safely access appropriate support within the community. Evidence
consistently shows that women in contact with the justice system
often have complex needs linked to trauma, mental health
difficulties, substance misuse and unstable accommodation. By
supporting eligible women to remain in the community while
awaiting trial, this pilot will help reduce unnecessary
disruption to family life, strengthen engagement with services,
address underlying causes of offending behaviour and contribute
to better outcomes for women, their children and wider community
safety."
Notes to editors:
- The Bail Support pilot scheme forms part of ongoing efforts
to develop more effective and responsive approaches for women in
the justice system, with a focus on rehabilitation, reducing
reoffending and improving community safety.
- Hydebank Wood College, which has a focus on education,
learning and employment, accommodates young males between the
ages of 18 and 21. It also accommodates female remand and
sentenced prisoners within the complex.
- The pilot will be introduced in three phases, with the first
phase supporting women on remand in Hydebank Wood College
and Women's Prison. Subsequent phases will extend
to women appearing at their first Magistrates Court hearing,
following an overnight charge (by April 2027) and then at the
point of police bail before a first court appearance.
