Dr Lucy Baldwin’s report highlights the significant harm of short custodial sentences on mothers and their children, with emphasis on the voices of the mothers themselves. The women described challenges to their physical and mental health, challenges in relation to contact, lack of maternal support and significant impact on children. The report recommends a governmental approach that ensures coordinated and consistent funding streams for women’s services to improve outcomes for mothers and their children.
Read the full report here: Short But Not Sweet: A study of the impact of short custodial sentences on mothers and their children