ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides an overview of the legislation on short periods of incarceration and examines why restraint should be used with women. It outlines a number of problems with short terms of incarceration. The book also provides an overview of the mothers interviewed in this research, why repeat semi-structured interviews were considered to be the most appropriate method, and what was done to overcome any potential issues relating to methodological complexities. It examines how female prisoners experience pains of incarceration, before specifically looking at the pains of short periods of incarceration, which includes feelings of injustice, fear of the unknown, and how the mothers manage the feelings of guilt. The book explores the level of disruption to the children of the women interviewed in this research and the wide-ranging effects of separation.
