I recently had the privilege of visiting the the Birmingham Magistrates Court. As the High Sheriff of the West Midlands, it is my role to support and champion the work of our judiciary system. It was great to attend and learn all about the work of the Intensive Supervision Courts (ISC), a pilot scheme launched here in Birmingham.
This programme began in June 2023, and aims to support women who enter the criminal justice system due to mental health issues, addiction or domestic abuse. Instead of custodial sentences, women aged 18 and over at risk of immediate custody are offered intensive orders as alternatives, administered at a women’s centre with probation services.
During my visit, I was encouraged to hear that early insights show positive engagement from participants, with many achieving employment and integrating back into society. The collaborative approach of this new team and their agency partners has already received national recognition for its impact.
I had the honour of presenting High Sheriff Awards to recognise the outstanding contributions of those involved in this brilliant pilot scheme. Thank you to all of this exceptional team for their important work in breaking the cycle of reoffending.
