The resettlement needs of female prisoners

Abstract

Continuity of care issues are relevant to the prison population in terms of release and resettlement into the community. A sample of 27 female prisoners due for release were interviewed about the care they had received in prison and their plans for release. The interviews particularly focused on mental health problems and any care they might have received for these. Attempts were made to track these prisoners after release from prison, but only eight interviews could be conducted after release. There was no information available for eight of the sample after release; for the remaining 11, some information was gained from family, friends, and agencies who had engaged with them on release. This article highlights three main themes from these interviews: mental health, substance misuse, and accommodation.

Keywords:

• resettlement
• continuity of care
• health care
• female prisoners