Women are less likely to be imprisoned for shoplifting and soliciting these days Greatnan unless they are coercing someone else to do it, or it is aggravated in extreme ways, such as doing the same thing persistently following arrest and caution or fine. The usual range of penalties has been absolute or conditional discharge, fine, probation supervision, community payback and/or ASBO. Their ability to vote wouldn't be affected, but professionals working with offenders would argue that women committing frequent petty offences aren't known for having a sense of what it means to be a citizen, or exercising their right to vote, and if they come into contact with such services in any meaningful way, this issue is raised with them.
The first thing we usually found was that they weren't on the electoral role. It would be part of a piece of work looking at whether they have ID, bank accounts, debt, the right benefits or regular work, their own address etc. Having a vote is something we often take for granted, but for many offenders, especially women, it is a milestone in their rehabilitation and sense of having a stake in society.