Women Exiting Prison

<p>Women’s incarceration is on the rise globally and this has significant intergenerational economic and humanitarian costs for communities across the world. While there have been efforts to implement reform particularly in countries such as Canada UK US and Australia the growing evidence suggests women’s prisons and the support structures surrounding them are in crisis. </p><p>This collection of critical essays presents groundbreaking research on women’s post-imprisonment policy practice and experiences. It is the first collection to offer international perspectives on gender criminalisation the effects of imprisonment and women-centred approaches to the short and long-term support of women exiting prison. It offers cutting-edge insights into contemporary policy developments and women’s experiences across the US the UK Australia Canada and Northern Ireland.</p><p>The collection makes two important contributions. First it marks a departure from an instrumental and individual focus on ‘what works’ to reduce women’s offending and re-offending behaviour - a prevailing approach within competing collections focused on post-release issues. Second it presents critical original research with robust empirical foundations to revive feminist criminological engagement around gender imprisonment and most critically post-release management support and survival.</p><p>The collection will appeal to academics and community-based advocates activists lawyers and practitioners engaged in advocacy and service provision for imprisoned women. It is also an important and unique analysis for undergraduate and postgraduate students studying criminological and social science courses particularly those related to gender and crime imprisonment and correctional policy and qualitative research methods.</p>