A suspect population: An examination of bail decision making for foreign national women in criminal courts in England and Wales

By law in England and Wales, defendants in criminal proceedings have a right to bail while awaiting trial or sentencing. The right to bail can be overturned and custodial remand imposed, only as an exceptional measure of last resort. Foreign national women are more likely to be remanded in custody than their British counterparts, often for less serious offences. They make up a significant and increasing proportion of prison admissions on remand, raising concerns that compliance with national and international standards of justice is being eroded in practice. This research explores these disparities by examining the context and processes in which bail decisions are made in England and Wales.

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Author: May Robson
Published: 2022