Mothers, Prison and Parental Rights

By Kate O'Brien

This timely book offers a powerful exploration of how incarcerated mothers in the UK respond to separation from their children and manage their parental rights while in custody. Drawing on in-depth interviews and a participatory theatre project, the book gives voice to women navigating complex family court proceedings, trauma and the impact of gender-based violence and substance use on the removal of their children.

With a distinctive rights-based approach, it highlights the structural harms of imprisonment and family separation on women. Bridging policy, practice and academia, this timely study addresses a critical gap in criminology literature, offering unique insights into maternal experiences of prison.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1529247152
• ISBN13: 9781529247152
• Release Date: January 2027
• Publisher: Bristol University Press
• Length: 176 Pages