Graham Towl

Tammi Walker

In 2015 the landmark suicide of the 100th woman to kill herself in prison custody passed largely unnoticed. This book by two experts sets out to redress the balance by examining all aspects of the history, present practices, causes and prevention prospects connected to this tragic chain of events. A long overdue analysis of a subject that is at last beginning to receive enhanced scrutiny. Focuses on both women and adolescent girls in custody. Looks at psychological, demographic, environmental and clinical factors. The first book of its kind. Reviews ‘Walker and Towl’s new book is a really welcome addition to the suicide and self-injury literature. It covers considerable ground in a concise and accessible way. Not only does it provide great coverage of the key issues around suicide and self-injury in women’s prisons, it provides really helpful tips on supporting women, on staff training and on managing the aftermath of a suicide. I highly recommend this book’: Professor Rory O’Connor, University of Glasgow. ‘Very helpful in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of current practice and understanding why reductions in the prison population and a holistic approach to care are vital in saving lives’: Dr Jo Borrill, University of Westminster. ‘The question that arises from this book is, “How can we as a society heap any more punishment on people who are already punishing themselves?”: Mark Johnson MBE, author of Wasted (Sphere, 2008), founder of CanDo Coffee and the charity User Voice. ‘[The authors] bring an often neglected subject into sharp relief and, refreshingly, they are not afraid to make some strong, evidence-based assertions about the direction of penal policy and gaps in our understanding’: Anita Dockley, Research Director, Howard League for Penal Reform.

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