Alternatives to Carceral Feminism : Police are failing women

The default response for tackling gender-based violence is often more policing, tougher sentencing, and increased surveillance, however many many are beginning to question whether relying so heavily on criminal justice institutions actually keeps women safe. Police are failing women.

This critical perspective is often called carceral feminism. This article examines what it means, how it shapes UK policy, and what alternatives might offer real change.

What Is Carceral Feminism?

Carceral feminism is a term used to describe feminist efforts that rely on the police, courts, and prisons as the primary tools to end gender-based violence. It gained traction in the 1990s, especially in the United States, but the framework applies in the UK as well. Carceral feminism focuses on punishment - longer sentences for rapists, stricter bail conditions for abusers, and more power for the police to intervene in cases of violence against women.

While this approach has led to some legal gains, such as the criminalisation of coercive control and the establishment of domestic violence protection orders, it also raises serious concerns. Critics argue that it relies on institutions that have historically failed to protect women, especially marginalised women, and that it often reinforces the very inequalities it aims to address.

Policing the Problem: Gender Imbalance in UK Police Forces

One of the key issues in relying on law enforcement to address gender-based violence is that the UK police force is still overwhelmingly male. As of 2023, only about 32% of police officers in England and Wales are women - and the percentage is even lower in senior leadership roles. This imbalance matters. Women often report that male officers don’t take their complaints seriously, especially in cases involving domestic violence or sexual assault.

Moreover, recent scandals - such as the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving Metropolitan Police officer, and revelations of widespread misogyny within police WhatsApp groups, have severely damaged public trust. For many women, especially women of colour, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those from working-class backgrounds, calling the police may feel like a last resort, not a lifeline.

This raises a difficult question: Can we rely on an institution to solve a problem when it is itself part of that problem?

Who Does Carceral Feminism Leave Out?

Carceral solutions also fail to protect those who are already criminalised, such as migrant women with insecure immigration status, sex workers, and women of colour. These groups are often reluctant to report violence out of fear that they themselves will be detained, deported, or punished.

For example, migrant women fleeing abuse may avoid seeking help because their immigration status might be shared with the Home Office. Likewise, sex workers face criminal penalties for their work, making it dangerous to report violence or coercion to authorities. In these cases, more policing does not mean more protection - it means more risk.

In January 2022, The Guardian reported that a coalition of women's rights organisations called for the abolition of laws allowing courts to imprison individuals for their own protection. They argued that such measures disproportionately affect Black, Asian, minoritized, and migrant women, and that the criminal justice system often fails to address the underlying issues these women face, such as discrimination and lack of support services.

When carceral recourse backfires

A report by the Centre for Women's Justice reveals that many women are prosecuted for offenses directly linked to their experiences of domestic abuse. Examples include being coerced into illegal activities by abusive partners or retaliating in self-defense. The lack of legal protections and understanding of the complexities of abuse often leads to victims being treated as offenders, exacerbating their trauma and hindering access to support

In 2009, Layla Ibrahim reported a violent sexual assault to the police. However, inconsistencies in her account led authorities to accuse her of fabricating the incident. Despite evidence of physical injuries, she was charged with perverting the course of justice and sentenced to three years in prison while six months pregnant. This case underscores how victims can be criminalized when their narratives are questioned, deterring others from reporting assaults.

In May 2025, Open Democracy wrote about a woman who sought police help when her abusive ex-partner appeared outside her home, shouting threats. Although she had a restraining order in place, police claimed they could not act because he was technically outside the restricted zone. When she became upset and verbally abusive to the police, she was arrested.

At 18, Martyna Ogonowska fatally stabbed a man who was sexually assaulting her. She was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years. The court acknowledged her history of trauma and PTSD from a prior rape but ruled that carrying a knife precluded a self-defense claim. Advocacy groups argue that her sentencing reflects systemic failures to consider the impact of past abuse on victims' actions. 

So What Are the Alternatives?

Abolitionist feminism offers a realistic and equitable alternative to systems built on carceral logic. It recognizes that gender is not experienced in isolation, but is shaped by overlapping forces such as state violence and economic, social, and political instability. This approach calls for a fundamental transformation of society—moving away from punitive state structures and toward community-based, non-carceral solutions that promote safety, care, and collective well-being.

Instead of focusing exclusively on punishment, many feminists and activists advocate for community-based, preventative, and restorative approaches to gender-based violence. These alternatives include:

1. Investment in Support Services

Many survivors say what they need most isn’t a police officer, it’s somewhere to go, someone to talk to, and a way to rebuild their lives. Yet funding for women’s refuges, rape crisis centres, and trauma-informed mental health services in the UK has been cut repeatedly in the past decade. Reinvesting in these essential services should be a top priority.

2. Education and Prevention

Teaching young people about consent, healthy relationships, and gender equality from an early age is key to preventing violence before it starts. Rather than reacting to harm, prevention efforts seek to change the underlying culture that allows gender-based violence to persist.

3. Restorative and Transformative Justice

Restorative justice focuses on repairing harm through facilitated dialogue between survivors and those who caused harm - always survivor-led and voluntary. Transformative justice goes further, seeking to address the root causes of violence in families, communities, and systems. While these models are still emerging in the UK, they offer promising pathways for healing without relying on punishment.

4. Decriminalisation and Harm Reduction

For groups like sex workers and migrants, decriminalisation can reduce vulnerability and increase access to support. Campaigns such as Decrim Now argue that removing criminal penalties helps sex workers report violence and work more safely. Similarly, campaigns for safe reporting mechanisms for migrant women would allow them to report abuse without fear of immigration enforcement.

5. Reducing female imprisonment

Zoe Williams, in February 2025, criticized the state of women's prisons in the UK, noting that they often fail to provide adequate care and support. She highlighted issues such as limited contact with children, inadequate facilities, and a lack of gender-specific support, arguing that the punitive approach neglects the welfare needs of incarcerated women.

In September 2024, the Guardian reported that Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced plans to reduce the number of women in prison by establishing a Women's Justice Board. She emphasized that prison often fails to rehabilitate women, many of whom are incarcerated for non-violent offenses and are themselves victims of abuse. The initiative aims to provide community-based support and resolve cases before they reach court, challenging the effectiveness of punitive measures.

Eva Wiseman argued in July 2024 that women's prisons should be abolished, highlighting that many incarcerated women are victims of systemic issues like poverty and abuse. She pointed out that prisons often exacerbate trauma rather than rehabilitate, and advocated for investment in women's centers that offer support services as alternatives to incarceration. 

Moving Forward

Ending gender-based violence is non-negotiable, but how we get there matters. Carceral feminism offers easy soundbites (“lock them up”) but often avoids the harder work of cultural change, community building, and structural reform and ignores the experiences of incarcerated women. It’s time to include alternative paths to justice, and toward models that centre healing, safety, and equality for all women, especially those most often left behind.

The goal isn’t to ignore criminal behaviour. It’s to ask whether the systems we rely on are truly built to protect, and whether we might build something better.

May 2025