Abstract

This article is based on primary research conducted by the authors in Northern Ireland in the Mourne House women's unit at Maghaberry Prison in 2004 and in Ash House women's prison unit in Hydebank Wood Young Offender Centre from 2005-2006. It explores the imprionment of women in prison in the context of a society slowly and unevenly emerging from violence conflict and against a backdrop of the global rise of women's imprisonment over the past two dcades.