The Impact of Short Sentences on Mothers
Date
2015-10-24
Authors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
ISSN
DOI
Volume Title
Publisher
Criminal law & Justice
Type
Article
Peer reviewed
Yes
Abstract
This article, originally commissioned for the European Journal of Parental Imprisonment (Winter 2015 ed) explores the impact of short sentences on mothers , the appropriateness and proportionality of custodial sentences in relation to mothers and grandmothers . The article further explores international compasrison in relation to the sentencing of mothers together with proposals for change ( which are detailed fully in the Baldwin L (2015) Mothering Justice ;Working with Mothers in Criminal & Social Justice settings.)
Description
This article was originally commissioned by the European Journal of Parental Imprisonment (Autumn ed) This was a Jointly authoured article with Rona Epstein, Honorary Research Fellow at Coventry University - Rona and I are undertaking further research project 'Short but not Sweet:A Study of the Imposition of Short Custodial Sentences and In Particular Mothers & Grandmothers. Grandmothers have often been ‘invisible in both research and literature pertaining to women and imprisonment ‘(Baldwin 2015a:140) and that is why we wished to include them in this forthcoming study. . Through our research we will hear the voices of the women themselves who have been in prison for short periods. We will learn what the experience was like for them, and the effects on their dependants. We hope to be able to make further informed proposals for positive change based on our research findings and ultimately seek change in relation to not only a reduction in the number of short custodial sentences imposed in order to benefit mothers and their children – but to significantly reduce the imposition of any custodial sentences on mothers .
Keywords
mothers, sentencing, courts, magistrates, custody
Citation
Baldwin L (2015) The Impact of Short Sentences on Mothers in Criminal Law & Justice Weekly vol179:779-781