AQW 46438/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Justice
To ask the Minister of Justice to detail (i) the total number of women committed to custody, in each of the last five years; and (ii) any trends identified over that period.
Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 18 May 2026
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 18 May 2026
- Answer due by
- 3 June 2026
- Answered
- 27 May 20269 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Justice
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The following table details (i) the total number of individual females committed to Northern Ireland prison custody, in each of the last five years.
| Year | Females Committed |
| 2021 | 222 |
| 2022 | 253 |
| 2023 | 290 |
| 2024 | 319 |
| 2025 | 321 |
Source: PRISM – Management Information
Notes: 1. Figures are snapshot data and are correct as at midnight on the dates shown.
2. Individuals committed more than once within a year are counted once for that year. Individuals committed in multiple years are counted once in each year of committal.
(ii) Trends indicate a year-on-year increase in the number of individual females committed to Northern Ireland prison custody over the last five years, with a marginal increase between 2024 and 2025. Overall, there was an increase of 45% between 2021 and 2025.