NCJ Number
170374
Date Published
1997
Length
206 pages
Annotation
This document reports on conditions at HM Prison and Institution Cornton Vale, a Scottish women's correctional facility.
Abstract
Research for this study involved in-depth interviews with prisoners and staff on numerous occasions over the course of 1 year. Findings from this exploration of highly complex and intricately linked issues include the following: (1) The vast majority of women in Cornton Vale have at least some experience with illicit use of drugs and approximately half consider drugs a problem for them; (2) Bullying appears to be a largely hidden offense; physical assaults are comparatively rare and more likely to be reported; (3) Well over a third of the women interviewed had attempted suicide; staff in particular viewed self-injury differently from suicide attempts, a worrisome tendency since half of all people who injure themselves go on to suicide; and (4) 82.2 percent of the women had experienced some form of abuse and 66.7 percent were directly aware of the abuse of people close to them. The report also discusses links between addiction and abuse and links between bullying and suicides. Information developed by this research into Cornton Vale, in combination with past research and the experience of other prisons, should provide the opportunity for women to begin to address their needs and to prepare them, with support from community-based organizations, for their return to life outside. Notes, tables, figures, references