Not Beyond Redemption

Who we are

Not Beyond Redemption provides free Family Law advice and representation to mothers in prison, helping them to re-establish and maintain contact with their children, which is often lost when they are sentenced. The charity was founded by leading Family Lawyer, Camilla Baldwin, to ensure that family law advice and representation is available not only to those who can afford it but also to those who need it most.

Women in prison are one of the most vulnerable groups in society. Over half of the women in prison report having suffered domestic violence, with 53% of women reporting having experienced emotional, physical, or sexual abuse as a child. One in three female prisoners are mothers of children under 18, and one in five are lone parents who face their children being taken away from them following their imprisonment. The Prison Reform Trust estimates that each year over 17,000 children are separated from their mothers due to incarceration, with only 5% of children remaining in their family home.

Women in prison are frequently unaware of their rights, and since 2013, Legal Aid has been unavailable for most family law cases, meaning many mothers in prison lose access to their children and have nowhere to turn. Maintaining a healthy and supportive relationship with family while in prison is crucial to reducing reoffending rates and improving rehabilitation. According to the Ministry of Justice figures, the female reoffending rate is 23%, but prisoners who receive family visits are 39% less likely to re-offend than those who do not. A parent who has a stake in their child’s life can endeavor to serve as a positive role model and is motivated to turn their life around.

Not Beyond Redemption was established in 2020, and although we are a small team, we have large ambitions. Currently, we hold in-person legal clinics at six female prisons and run ad hoc remote clinics at the remaining six, ensuring that all mothers in prison facing the loss of contact with their children can access our support. Our goal is to run in-person legal clinics in all women's prisons in England.

We partner with law firms that provide us with lawyers who attend the legal clinics and take on the cases on a pro bono basis. The law firms generously supporting our mission are Sidley, Morrison & Foerster, Akin, Clyde & Co, Latham & Watkins, A&O Shearman, DAC Beachcorft, Simmons & Simmons, and Stephenson Harwood. We also have a list of over 120 barristers from top chambers across the country who are willing to represent our women in Court.