Some say that when you imprison a mother, you imprison a family. Today, Dr. Shona Minson, Researcher at Oxford University’s Centre for Criminology, shares her groundbreaking work on the often invisible impact of maternal imprisonment on children. She goes beyond stereotypes that label incarcerated women as “bad mothers,” showing how poverty, stigma and systemic discrimination push women into prison and how these injustices reverberate through generations.

BBC Video, What happens when your Mum goes to prison: www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYLKW4aOhWE

Talking About Methods Podcast: Shona Minson on Vicarious Trauma in Socio-legal research: open.spotify.com/episode/0ZBIzHyDYOf1DohjY4gzav

YouTube: Safeguarding Children when Sentencing Mothers: youtube.com/watch?v=XBY7hjsb-O0

To learn more about some of the issues touched upon in Pamela’s episode, visit www.womenbeyondwalls.org/shona

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Pamela Winn discovered she was pregnant while incarcerated in the USA. Shackled during transport and denied proper medical care, she endured harsh conditions no pregnant woman should face.

Today, Pamela asks us to go beyond stigma and recognise the humanity of incarcerated women, including mothers. She also talks about her work with RestoreHER, an organisation pushing for real policy change to help women caught up in the criminal legal system.

Learn more about RestoreHER: restoreher.us

The Women’s CARE (Childbirth Alternatives, Resources & Education) Act: restoreher.us/womenrsquos-care-act.html

RestoreHER Instagram: instagram.com/restoreher.usa

RestoreHER Facebook: facebook.com/restoreher.usa

RestoreHER Twitter/X: twitter.com/RestoreHER_USA

To learn more about some of the issues touched upon in Pamela’s episode, visit www.womenbeyondwalls.org/pamela

WINN | Juried Prize Winner | 2023 PBS Short Film Festival: youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=xVFRSMOgMSw

Follow Women Beyond Walls

On Instagram: instagram.com/womenbeyondwalls

On Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/women-beyond-walls/

On BlueSky: bsky.app/profile/did:plc:x4hfl72t7456bi2w2ocajb6c

From unpaid fines to laws that punish women for surviving violence, the system is locking up women who are simply trying to survive. Instead of addressing root causes, we’re criminalising poverty.

In this minisode, Olivia Rope, Executive Director of Penal Reform International, challenges us to go beyond the surface, to really listen to women’s stories and even question the system itself.

We also talk about what’s working, including the community-based alternatives to prison, as well as the bold leadership and investment we need from the women’s rights movements to really make change happen.

Learn more about Penal Reform International: www.penalreform.org

From Poverty to Punishment Report: www.womenbeyondwalls.org/povertytopunishment

To learn more about some of the issues touched upon in Olivia’s episode visit: From unpaid fines to laws that punish women for surviving violence, the system is locking up women who are simply trying to survive. Instead of addressing root causes, we’re criminalising poverty.

In this minisode, Olivia Rope, Executive Director of Penal Reform International, challenges us to go beyond the surface, to really listen to women’s stories and even question the system itself.

We also talk about what’s working, including the community-based alternatives to prison, as well as the bold leadership and investment we need from the women’s rights movements to really make change happen.

Learn more about Penal Reform International: www.penalreform.org/

From Poverty to Punishment Report: www.womenbeyondwalls.org/povertytopunishment

To learn more about some of the issues touched upon in Olivia’s episode visit: www.womenbeyondwalls.org/pod