Invisible women: understanding women’s experiences of long-term imprisonment

Invisible women: understanding women’s experiences of long-term imprisonment This briefing highlights the far-reaching consequences of a lack of specialist, gender-specific, trauma informed provision for the the small minority of women serving very long determinate or indeterminate prison sentences. Most women serving long prison sentences will have extensive histories of trauma and are often victims as well as perpetrators. In a study of women serving life sentences, 60 per cent reported histories of sexual abuse, 80 per cent had experienced physical abuse and 54 per cent reported both sexual and physical abuse. Women lacking specialist support can feel isolated in their trauma; those serving long sentences are more exposed to repeat traumatisation. Prison Reform Trust