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.

Kate O'Brien is Associate Professor in Criminology and co-director of the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Programme at Durham University.