Why are Pregnant Women in Prison?

Research published in November 2021 explores why courts in England and Wales sentence pregnant women to prison, highlighting the circumstances and vulnerabilities of twenty-two case studies; touching upon practices in other jurisdictions; and emphasising the need for a sea change in attitudes in society and among decision-makers to prevent the lives of unborn babies being placed at risk due to incarceration. Pregnant women in prison, The Observer reports, have a greater risk of stillbirth or having a premature baby than women who are not in prison, official figures reveal.