Motherhood in the Justice System

Our new series of JUSTICE explores the experiences of mothers in the justice system. With those working on the front line, and those with lived experience, each episode will shed light on the issues and challenges mothers in the justice system face, and explore what needs to change.

Episodes

25 April

Episode 1: Mothers in the justice system – the key issues and challenges

In this first episode in our series exploring motherhood in the justice system, Edwina sat down with Lilly Lewis, Women’s Involvement Advisor at One Small Thing, to discuss some of the key issues and challenges facing mothers in the justice system.

09 May

Episode 2: A Mother’s rights in the justice system

In this week’s episode, Edwina explores what rights mothers in the justice system have. She speaks to Kate Lill, Women Prisoners Caseworker at the Prisoners’ Advice Service, whose role involves providing free legal advice to women in prison, and making sure they are able to assert their rights.

23 May

Episode 3: Pregnancy and birth in the justice system, part 1

In this episode, we explore pregnancy and birth in the justice system with Dr Laura Abbott, a registered midwife and Associate Professor in Research at The University of Hertfordshire, who has extensively researched women’s experiences of pregnancy in criminal justice settings.

30 May

Episode 4: Pregnancy and birth in the justice system, part 2

In this episode we’ll be delving deeper into more of the data around pregnancy in prison, and learning about the lived experience of those who have been pregnant in prison. Edwina will be speaking to Suzy (not her real name) Trustee of Birth Companions and part of their lived experience team, and Dr Miranda Davies, Lead for prisoner health research at the Nuffield Trust.

13 june

Episode 5: Mothers in prison – a social work perspective

In this week’s episode, Edwina speaks to Becky Wray and Katia Parent, the two family social workers who are part of the pilot project run by the Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) that sees family social workers being based inside women’s prisons for the first time. We hear the unique perspectives of these social workers – the difficult job of managing the connection or separation between mothers and their children, and navigating the prison and care system in-between.

26 june

Episode 6: Exploring the experiences of black and racially minoritised mothers in the justice system

In this week’s episode, Edwina explores the issues affecting black and racially minoritised mothers in the justice system. She speaks to Monica Thomas and Dr Sinem Bozkurt, two researchers at the cutting edge of improving knowledge of these experiences.

11 july

Episode 7: Exploring the voices of children affected by maternal imprisonment

In this episode we focus on the experiences and voices of children affected by maternal imprisonment. So often children are kept in the dark about what is happening, or their views and wishes are overlooked. This episode contains the voices of children who have been affected, alongside professionals working to improve the support available.

25 july

Episode 8: Exploring Reform of the Justice System for Mothers

In our final episode in the series, Edwina reflects on what we’ve heard, and looks to the solutions to some of the challenges we’ve explored throughout the series. Lilly Lewis, Women’s Involvement Advisor at One Small Thing, returns to discuss her reflections, and we explore the need to continue to work together across the sector to campaign for reform and hear from Naomi and Sam from Birth Companions on the No Birth Behind Bars campaign. Edwina also speaks to Emma Plugge who is the lead at the University of Southampton for the evaluation of Hope Street, our residential community.