The Social Exclusion of Incarcerated Women with Cognitive Disabilities : Shut Out, Shut In

The social exclusion of incarcerated women with cognitive disabilities explores the lived experience of cognitively disabled women incarcerated in Australia. It draws upon in-depth interviews with Indigenous and non-Indigenous women, as well as interviews conducted with prison practitioners – psychologists, counsellors, and Aboriginal Liaison Officers. Using a theoretical framework of social exclusion, the book charts the complex intersection between cognitively disabled women and the Criminal Justice System, and how this connection works to foster and maintain a state of social exclusion prior to incarceration, and equally, within the prison setting. The book also provides a practical template for other researchers to use when investigating the aligned fields of the Criminal Justice System and incarceration, women offenders, cognitive disability, and social exclusion. By placing the voices of the incarcerated women with cognitive disabilities ‘front and centre’, a new and innovative approach to social exclusion emerges. The book moves beyond the 'telling of sad stories' to examine the social and political climate that permits disadvantage, inequality, and injustice to flourish. This book will be of great interest to academics and students in criminology, criminal justice, disability studies, women’s and gender studies, and penology. In exploring theory in a practical way, it will also be of use to those involved in the health sector, community services, disability support agencies, disability advocates, prisoner advocacy, women’s studies and women’s advocacy, and human rights activism. "The Social Exclusion of Incarcerated Women with Cognitive Disabilities presents a theoretical and practical exploration of the links between social exclusion, cognitively disabled women, and incarceration, and how these intersect to create and perpetuate cycles of disadvantage and reoffending. Based on the lived experiences of cognitively disabled women incarcerated in Australian women's prisons, the book explores their lives pre-prison and in the prison setting, highlighting the presence of social exclusion prior to incarceration, which continues as they navigate the complexities of the criminal justice system (CJS) and the tightly regulated prison environment. Contributions from prison practitioners provide further evidence of the way in which institutional protocols reinforce the social exclusion of this group of women. In addition to formal acknowledgement of the needs of this prison population, the book argues for alternatives to current responses to cognitively disabled women, recommending ongoing interagency and community support that targets not only criminogenic needs, but the all-pervasive issue of social exclusion that characterizes their lives. The Social Exclusion of Incarcerated Women with Cognitive Disabilities will be of great interest to students and scholars of penology, criminal justice, criminology, disability studies, forensic psychology, and social work. It should also appeal to practitioners involved in criminal justice, the health sector, community services, disability support agencies, disability advocates, prisoner advocacy, women's studies and women's advocacy, and human rights activism"-- Provided by publisher Cover Endorsements Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of illustrations Acknowledgements Abbreviations 1. A reason to research 2. Complex intersections: Cognitive disability, the criminal justice system, and social exclusion 3. An approach to prison research 4. Pathways to prison, pathways to social exclusion 5. Off to prison – you know the way ... 6. Women’s prisons and cognitive disability – how do they fare? 7. Women, cognitive disability, and incarceration: The face of social exclusion Index