Women in Prison: A British Study

Abstract

Almost all sociological research on women in prison has been carried out in America. Although some British research has described the so cial characteristics of female prisoners, there are, for example, no stud ies comparable to those from America on the life and experiences of women inside prisons. As a result, it is frequently assumed that Brit ish prisons for women operate in much the same way as do those in America, and American findings are sometimes used to suggest that imprisoned women inevitably adapt in particular ways. The present study, undertaken in one British open prison, is summarized with di rect reference to American studies.