Peer mentoring for women in PRISON

Women in prison are more likely to be re-exposed to ‘powerful traumatising processes’ whilst incarcerated (Heney J. and Kristiansen, C., M. (1998) ‘An analysis of the impact of prison on women survivors of childhood sexual abuse’, Women & Therapy, 20, pp. 29–44 as quoted in Dirks, D. (2004) ‘Sexual revictimization and retraumatization of women in prison’, Women’s Studies Quarterly, 32(3/4), pp. 102–115). Therefore their experiences of ‘re-victimisation and re-traumatisation’ need to be addressed by all aspects of the penal regime: in relation to staff, policies, programmes, and penal procedures (Dirks, D. (2004) ‘Sexual revictimization and retraumatization of women in prison’, Women’s Studies Quarterly, 32(3/4), pp. 102–115). The chapter sheds light on peer mentoring for women in prison in England and Wales, specifically taking into account the impact of the peer mentoring relationship. Despite a number of benefits with prison-based peer mentoring, risks and challenges have also been identified. Specifically, research has identified the challenges of vulnerable women attempting to address the needs of fellow vulnerable prisoners; such concerns centre on the possibility of creating further trauma for the peer mentor by having them re-live distressing or upsetting experiences through mentoring discussions (Devilly, G. J., Sorbello, L., Eccleston, L. and Ward, T. (2005) ‘Prison-based peer-education schemes’, Aggression and Violent Behaviour, 10, pp. 219–240). With this recognition of the different challenges and risks to peer mentoring in mind, the study cited in this chapter sought to determine whether peer mentoring enforces unequal power dynamics and control between women in prison, and how issues around recurring trauma were managed.