ABSTRACT
Black women are at the intersection of race, gender, and class, resulting in reduced power, wealth, education, and opportunity in society. The criminal justice system (CJS) echoes society, leaving Black women marginalised, discriminated against, and disadvantaged. Due to this intersection, Black women have unique experiences within criminal justice that this chapter seeks to highlight and address. Black women are overrepresented and adversely affected throughout the CJS, from first encounters with the police to imprisonment. Globally, Black women are subjected to violence, racism and various layers of disadvantage within these institutions. This chapter outlines Black women’s experiences in the CJS before honing in on their prison experiences. Whilst this chapter focuses on British and American prisons, other nations such as Italy and Nigeria will also be discussed to provide a broader global insight. The chapter concludes by detailing the author’s work on Black women’s experiences in English prisons, drawing on themes of systemic disadvantage, negotiation, navigation, resilience, and coping strategies.
