Casual female viewers divided by pregnant inmate debate

Viewers of Loose Women were divided today as the panel held a fierce debate over whether pregnant women who commit crimes should go to prison.

Janet Street-Porter argued that ‘there are very, very few reasons why a woman should be locked up in prison’, while Kate Piper agreed that expectant mothers should be shown clemency.

However, Coleen Nolan and Brenda Edwards were concerned about the implications of the suggestion.

The public was torn, with some insisting that mothers should “think of their children before committing the crime,” when, as others said, it depends on the crime.

The discussion started when Coleen brought up the Princess of Wales’s heartwarming message to women in the justice system yesterday when she community center that will house five women deemed “low risk” after committing a non-violent crime.

“I think pregnant women and women with families are two categories that absolutely should not be locked up unless they really pose a danger to the public,” Janet insisted.

She added that much of the UK’s female prisoner population has experienced domestic, emotional and sexual abuse, as well as drug and alcohol addiction.

“Can prison really be the right place for these people?” she asked.

“And remember, the vast majority of women in prison have not committed acts of violence.

“They’re more likely to be in prison for fraud…a very small number are in prison for being drug runners and then they would be forced to do so…”

Katie Piper, who currently has a series on the subject – Jailhouse Mums – wholeheartedly agreed.

“It’s a topic I’ve been exploring since January. I fly back and forth to the United States.

‘I volunteer in prisons in the UK, but I’ve been filming in America for a new series, Jailhouse Mums… and what Janet said is actually true.

“People think you go to jail and meet tons of Myra Hindleys, Rose West — you don’t, you know, that’s why they’re such high-profile inmates, because those violent crimes committed by women are so rare.

“And it’s like Janet said, where people don’t have a lot of choices, they’re born into violence, they’re born into addiction, and they end up in the prison system … and it doesn’t work, the recidivism rates after custodial sentences are so high. ‘

The presenter, 39, praised Kate Middleton’s work on the subject.

“I’m very happy that Kate is doing this,” she told the program. “She shines a light on perhaps a part of society that sometimes doesn’t have much to say.”

She added that “in this case, the child is always the victim,” stressing that current confinement systems can only reinforce harmful cycles in the baby’s future.

Coleen, 58, and Brenda Edwards were less supportive, saying they understood the sentiment but didn’t think women in prison should be “excused” just because they’re pregnant.

“It depends on the level of crime,” Brenda, 54, added.

“But…I don’t agree when you say people go through domestic violence or violence…there are a lot of people who have gone through that thoroughly and they don’t necessarily get to that point…everyone has a to make a choice.’

She added that she believes more should be done to help rehabilitate prisoners once they are free and ready to re-enter society.

Dozens of commentators rushed to Twitter to join the debate.

Some disagreed with the idea that women who commit crimes should be prepared to go to prison.

“Appear to want to justify crimes committed by women,” one wrote.

“If men go to prison for the same crime, why should women go free?” asked for a second.

A third wrote, “Don’t do the crime if you’re not willing to take the time.”

But others were more taken with the idea, given the right circumstances.

“Depends entirely on the crime,” one wrote. “If they have inflicted neglect, abuse, etc.”

Loose Women also read a statement from the Department of Justice, which said: “While independent judges determine sentences, it is clear to us that custody should always be the last resort for pregnant women.

“Since then, we’ve improved care for expectant mothers in prison, including specialist maternal and baby staff in every women’s prison and renewed pregnancy training for front-line staff.”