Women, Relationships & Criminal Justice

The Personal and Professional

Sarah Waite (Leeds Beckett University), Natalie Rutter (Leeds Trinity University)

$165.95

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Bristol University Press
15 January 2026

Gender studies: women; Penology & punishment; Offenders

Series: Gender and Crime in a Globalised World

Women who have been criminalised by the state typically encounter gendered experiences and challenges and are affected by complex and intersecting layers of system failure, marginalisation and stigma. Bringing together diverse perspectives from research, lived experience and frontline practice, this collection considers the central role of relationships for criminalised women, including motherhood, family, peer, romantic and professional relationships.

The collection offers critical insights into women's relationships with the often oppressive system which they are required to navigate. Through different forms of expression, the collection allows us to hear a range of voices that offer alternative visions for the present and future. It makes a powerful case for policies and practices that are more responsive to women's distinct needs within the criminal justice system.

Edited by: Sarah Waite (Leeds Beckett University), Natalie Rutter (Leeds Trinity University)
Imprint: Bristol University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781529242614
ISBN 10: 1529242614
Series: Gender and Crime in a Globalised World
Pages: 248
Publication Date: 15 January 2026
Audience: Professional and scholarly , College/higher education , Undergraduate , Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Narrative Viewpoint: Relationships – Joanne Le Grove Introduction – Natalie Rutter & Sarah Waite Reflective Piece: Understanding Relationships and the Role of Solidarity – Paula Harriott Part 1: Personal Relationships 1. Trauma to Triumph – Caroline 2. The Intergenerational Impacts of Maternal Imprisonment – Sophie Mitchel 3. Lost Motherhood: reflections of mothers impacted by custodial sentences who have lost care of their children – Susannah Bateson 4. Navigating Cultural Stigma: A ‘Good Indian Woman’s’ journey through the Criminal Justice System – Mandy Mahil 5. 'We started going together in the jail. And then we carried it on ootside’ – Marguerite Schinkel 6. Calm Heart – Melissia Smith 7. My True Authentic Self: A Narrative Reflection – Ayesha 8. ‘“I felt like trash...I needed help!” - A Discussion of Black Women’s Activism in the Carceral Space’ – Paula McLean Part 2 :Public Relationships 9. Imprisonment is a Women’s Issue – Nancy Loucks 10. Empathic Intuition: Working Outside of the State? – Kavya Padmanabhan 11. Reflecting on Staff Attitudes Towards Working with Women – Claire Rushton and Claire Morley Part 3: Professional Relationships 12. Don’t Call Me a Survivor – Kierra Myles and Shelley Vibert 13. How Cognitive Behavioural Coaching could help build 'good' Relationships for Women in Criminal Justice – Melanie Sheehan 14. Emotional Burden or Emotional Labour? Counselling Federally Incarcerated Women – Olga Marques 15. Alternative Journeys: Discovering Different Paths – MASH Group 16. Are we Responding to the Needs of Women? Practice Reflections – Julie Eden-Barnard 17. Motherhood in Focus: An Evolution of our Researcher Identities – Natalie Booth and Isla Masson 18. So What Now … - Claire Vilarrubi 19. Conclusion – Natalie Rutter & Sarah Waite

Natalie Rutter is Senior Lecturer in Criminology at Leeds Trinity University. Sarah Waite is Senior Lecturer in Criminology at Leeds Beckett University.

Reviews for Women, Relationships & Criminal Justice: The Personal and Professional

'These accounts and testimonies of women, supporting women, who are being held so far from their support network, their comforts and rituals, is a powerful and refreshing contribution to this academic and literature area of research into women within the criminal justice system. I would encourage practitioners working with women to learn from these real experiences and the roles women take in supporting each other.' Fiona Deacon, HMPPS Womens’ Group 'This book is an extraordinary, urgent and a deeply human collection. Through personal narratives, poetry and professional reflections, it brings to light the complex realities of criminalised women’s lives - highlighting how relationships, solidarity and compassion shape their experiences and resilience. It challenges us to listen, to care, and most importantly, to act. I know this book will be a vital force for change, and it was an honour and privilege to read.' Nicola Harding, CEO, We Fight Fraud