The BSC WCCJN present 'Women's voices: Expressions of harm and hope for justice-involved women.' This panel brings together research that has centred women's voices in a way that both deepens our understanding of the gendered harms inflicted by justice systems and underscores the importance of listening to women as source of hope for the future.

In her paper 'Beyond the barriers: Women's participation in family court proceedings', Dr Shona Minson examines the barriers to participation in family court proceedings for imprisoned women. This paper considers the intentions of the courts as set out in practice directions and procedure rules, before turning to a preliminary analysis of empirical data gathered from social work case files in two women’s prisons, interviews, and observations in the women’s problem-solving courts in England and the Female Offenders’ Court in Scotland. Significant barriers to women’s participation exist and women’s experiences of being marginalised in their own proceedings will be centred.

Dr Natalie Avlonitis will present a paper entitled 'Institutional thoughtlessness, the incarcerated pregnancy and experiences of mandatory separation of mothers from newborn babies.' This paper examines the repercussions of mandatory separation of babies from women in the CJS and provides a critical lens to analyse how systemic deficiencies perpetuate challenges for incarcerated pregnant women. The findings form a basis for developing guidance that combines the lived experiences of women with a critical analysis and critique of the prison institution, aiming to address institutional thoughtlessness and improve support systems for women undergoing mandatory separation.

In her paper 'Imprisonment is a women's issue' Prof Nancy Loucks examines the impacts on women left behind when a partner is imprisoned. Research on their finances, physical and mental health, housing, childcare arrangements, employment, and social contacts will be discussed. The presentation will conclude with a discussion about the ethics of justice systems that punish people who are innocent of the crime and how such punishment might be mitigated.

Drs Alexandra Fanghanel and Madeline Petrillo will report on the 'Building Hope' project. Hope Street is a purpose-built residential community for women and children impacted by the criminal legal system. It has been designed and built according to principles of trauma-informed practice and intentionally attempts to use the built environment as a tool for supporting women to heal from traumatic experiences common in their pathways to crime. It seeks to build something new, collaboratively with women that has the potential to offer a viable, effective alternative to custody. Using photovoice and emotion mapping activities, this research is exploring with the women living and staff working at Hope Street the extent to which it succeeds as a trauma-informed space and the significance of this for the future of residential alternatives to custody for women.

Hope Street is a purpose-built residential community for women and children impacted by the criminal legal system. It has been designed and built according to principles of trauma-informed practice and intentionally attempts to use the built environment as a tool for supporting women to heal from traumatic experiences common in their pathways to crime. It seeks to build something new, collaboratively with women that has the potential to offer a viable, effective alternative to custody. Using photovoice and emotion mapping activities, this research is exploring with the women living and staff working at Hope Street the extent to which it succeeds as a trauma-informed space and the significance of this for the future of residential alternatives to custody for women.

This paper considers the intentions of the courts as set out in practice directions and procedure rules, before turning to a preliminary analysis of empirical data gathered from social work case files in two women’s prisons, interviews, and observations in the women’s problem-solving courts in England and the Female Offenders’ Court in Scotland. Significant barriers to women’s participation exist and women’s experiences of being marginalised in their own proceedings will be centred.

This paper examines the repercussions of mandatory separation of babies from women in the CJS and provides a critical lens to analyse how systemic deficiencies perpetuate challenges for incarcerated pregnant women. The findings form a basis for developing guidance that combines the lived experiences of women with a critical analysis and critique of the prison institution, aiming to address institutional thoughtlessness and improve support systems for women undergoing mandatory separation.