Policy Report: Reforming Women’s Justice Systems in Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: A Call for Gender-Responsive Justice Reform

A policy report from the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) Women’s Justice Commission indicates that current criminal justice policies are failing to achieve their objectives. By not addressing the unique pathways leading women into the justice system, these practices actively undermine progress toward several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report highlights how a failure to account for factors such as trauma, economic hardship, and behavioral health needs results in policies that destabilize families and compromise public safety, directly conflicting with the global agenda for sustainable development.

Systemic Failures and Their Conflict with SDGs

The commission’s analysis reveals a significant misalignment between current justice practices and established international development goals. The primary areas of conflict include:

• SDG 5 (Gender Equality): The justice system frequently lacks a gender-responsive approach, perpetuating inequality by failing to address the distinct circumstances and needs of women.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): By ignoring the roles of trauma and unmet behavioral health needs as drivers of criminal behavior, the system fails to uphold the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being.
• SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Current policies often exacerbate the economic hardship that leads women into the justice system, thereby deepening cycles of poverty and inequality rather than alleviating them.
• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): The destabilization of families and communities caused by ineffective justice policies weakens societal structures and erodes public trust, hindering the development of peaceful, just, and inclusive institutions.

The Women’s Justice Commission Report: A Framework for Reform

In its inaugural report, the Women’s Justice Commission provides a comprehensive examination of the factors driving female involvement in the justice system. It puts forth a strategic framework for reform, calling for the adoption of four priority measures designed to create more effective and equitable early-stage responses, from the point of arrest through sentencing. This framework aims to realign justice practices with the principles of sustainable development.

Four Priority Measures for SDG-Aligned Justice Reform

The report outlines four key areas for immediate policy intervention to ensure the justice system contributes positively to the SDGs:

1. Develop Gender-Informed Early Intervention Protocols: Implement new procedures at the initial stages of justice involvement (arrest and pre-trial) that are specifically designed to address the needs of women, thereby advancing SDG 5 and SDG 16.
2. Integrate Support for Root Causes: Embed services that address trauma, economic instability, and behavioral health needs into the justice process, directly contributing to SDG 1, SDG 3, and SDG 10.
3. Reform Sentencing and Adjudication: Promote sentencing alternatives to incarceration that are proven to be more effective for women, fostering rehabilitation and family stability in line with the objectives of SDG 16.
4. Establish Data-Driven, Equitable Policies: Mandate the collection and analysis of gender-disaggregated data to create and refine policies, ensuring they are both effective and equitable, which is fundamental to building the accountable institutions envisioned in SDG 16.

Strategic Implementation and Projected Outcomes

Leaders from the CCJ Women’s Justice Commission have explored the report’s findings and discussed actionable strategies for policymakers and practitioners. The implementation of these recommendations is projected to yield outcomes that directly support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

• Crime Prevention: By addressing root causes, the reforms will create safer and more inclusive communities, a primary target of SDG 16.
• Strengthening Families: The focus on rehabilitation and support will foster more stable family environments, contributing to poverty reduction (SDG 1) and gender equality (SDG 5).
• Enhanced Institutional Efficiency: A shift toward more effective, evidence-based practices will reduce costs and improve the overall performance of justice institutions, reinforcing SDG 16.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article explicitly mentions “unmet behavioral health needs” and “trauma” as key factors leading women into the justice system. This directly connects to the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality: The core focus of the article is on the “unique pathways that lead women into the justice system” and the need for policies that address these distinct factors. This aligns with the goal of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls by addressing systemic issues that disproportionately affect them.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The article is centered on “criminal justice policies and practices.” It calls for improving responses from arrest through sentencing and implementing recommendations to prevent crime, which is a direct link to the goal of promoting just, peaceful, and inclusive societies.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Under SDG 3:
  • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. The article’s emphasis on addressing “trauma” and “unmet behavioral health needs” directly relates to promoting mental health and well-being as a preventative measure.
• Under SDG 5:
  • Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. The article’s argument that current justice policies fail to address women’s unique pathways implies a form of systemic discrimination that this target aims to eliminate.
  • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres. “Trauma” is often a result of violence, which the article identifies as a primary driver for women’s involvement in the justice system. Addressing this root cause is central to this target.
• Under SDG 16:
  • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. The call to improve “early-stage responses, from arrest through sentencing” for women is a direct effort to ensure a more equitable and effective justice system.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For Target 3.4: While no specific indicator is mentioned, progress could be measured by an implied indicator such as the proportion of women in the justice system receiving assessment and treatment for trauma and behavioral health needs. The article’s focus on these needs suggests that tracking access to care is a critical measure of success.
• For Target 5.1/5.2: The article implies the need to track indicators related to the reasons for women’s incarceration. An implied indicator would be the number and proportion of female incarcerations linked to pathways of trauma, economic hardship, and violence. A reduction in these numbers would indicate progress.
• For Target 16.3: The article’s call for improved “early-stage responses” implies a need for indicators that measure the effectiveness and equity of the justice system. A relevant implied indicator could be the rate of diversion from prosecution or incarceration for women who have experienced trauma or have significant behavioral health needs.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: counciloncj.org