Reducing the enduring harm of short terms of imprisonment

This chapter deals with the use of short terms of incarceration, which is considered problematic for women as it represents a disproportionate punishment due to the enduring harms caused. It points out that neither remand nor short prison sentences provide support to women, instead it causes tangible issues with finances, education, employment, and housing, or consequences to health and wellbeing. It also emphasizes why prison is rarely a fitting punishment for women with non-violent offences or have a low-risk status. The chapter explores the enduring harms of first short terms of imprisonment with the aim of providing practical recommendations to mitigate future harm. It presents post-custody interviews with mothers that have experienced a short period in prison for the first time for a nonviolent offence, dwelling on how they continue to be impacted by their experience post-custody.