Domestic abuse and mothers in prison or on release: an evidence review

This project will review policy and practice for mothers in or exiting prison who have past or current experience of domestic violence and abuse.

Around 13,000 women are received into custody each year in England and Wales. An estimated 61% are mothers to dependent children, and existing research highlights how imprisonment can severely disrupt mothering, with a damaging impact on women and their children. The Prison Reform Trust indicates that around 57% of women in prison have experienced domestic violence and abuse (DVA). The combined experiences of DVA, imprisonment and separation from their children can be traumatic and jeopardise women’s chances of rehabilitation and reintegration on leaving prison. While links between DVA and women’s offending are now better understood, there is a persistent evidence gap concerning mothers’ experiences of DVA and prison, and very little is known about the effectiveness of current policy or interventions.

The study will begin with analysis of the current policy framework in England and Wales, including the ongoing implementation of the Female Offenders Strategy 2018 and the Farmer Review 2018. The researchers will use narrative policy analysis to develop an in-depth understanding of the policy narratives that address the intersections of mothering, domestic abuse, offending and rehabilitation as well as insights into policy implementation.

A systematic review will explore interventions and outcomes, and will specifically address the following questions:

• What interventions are used with mothers in prison or during resettlement who experience DVA?
• Which theories underpin these interventions?
• What evidence exists of the effectiveness of policy and interventions? and
• What influences the effectiveness of existing interventions?

Evidence will be reviewed through an intersectional lens, paying attention to differences within the population by socio-demographic characteristics including ethnicity, asylum and migration status, age and disability. Published and grey articles will be eligible for inclusion if they: address mothering and/or domestic abuse support delivered in prison or via community-based provision. The findings from the policy analysis and systematic review will be combined to produce a narrative synthesis, telling the story of the evidence.

The research will provide evidence-informed recommendations for the tailored support needed for mothers in prison and on release. The findings will be disseminated to researchers, policymakers, practitioners, NGOs and HMPPS via a policy summary, academic and practitioner publications, and conference presentations. The final report will be made publicly available on the Nuffield Foundation website.