This research explored the effects of mandatory separation of babies from women with Criminal Justice System involvement. It addressed gaps in the evidence and in the processes that underpin the decision making involved for pregnant women with Criminal Justice System involvement. This study built upon the evidence base and previous research into imprisoned pregnant women’s experiences.
Background
In the UK, numbers of pregnant women are not routinely collated, but estimations suggest that 6-7% of the female prison population are at varying stages of pregnancy and approximately 100 babies are born to incarcerated women each year. There are no exact data of the numbers of newborn babies removed from their mother at or soon after birth. There are six Mother and Baby Units (MBU) in the 12 women’s UK prisons in the UK, currently, all underutilised. Accounts from qualitative research of women being mandatorily separated from their new-born babies demonstrate a deep sense of loss, yet surprisingly little research has examined experiences of the process of separating mothers from their babies. The study is the first project to link the professions of social work, Health Visiting, midwifery and criminal justice staff, with the experiences of women who have been in prison at the heart of the research.
This project is important due to compulsory separations posing a substantial risk to women’s mental health. It built upon the evidence base and previous research into imprisoned pregnant women’s experiences. It contributed original and robust evidence to health, criminal justice and social care service initiatives concerned with improving support, information and experiences of women.
Project Aims
The study aimed to
- Explore the effects of mandatory separation of imprisoned women from their babies through the lens of midwifery, social work, health visiting and criminal justice professionals.
- Bring together health, social care and prison professionals to develop collaborations and discussions to propose new guidance, actively supporting women who are being separated from their babies.
- Progress an empirically grounded conceptual framework for understanding the sociology of loss through mandatory separation of babies from their mothers, specifically those who are involved in the CJS, adding to the overall sociology of loss and grief.
Project Activity
The Lost Mothers Project has now been completed. The research examined how enforced separation of new-born babies is experienced by mothers in contact with the criminal justice system, alongside the perspectives of professionals involved in decision-making and care. Using qualitative and lived-experience-led methods, the project documented the emotional, psychological and practical impacts of separation, identified inconsistencies in policy and practice, and highlighted significant gaps in perinatal, postnatal and post-release support.
Impact
The project has generated significant academic, policy and public impact. Findings have been shared with policymakers, inspectorates and practitioners, including HM Inspectorate of Prisons and the Care Quality Commission, contributing to greater recognition of maternal separation as a critical perinatal, mental health and safeguarding issue. The research has also underpinned successful creative knowledge-exchange outputs, including Scenes from Lost Mothers, which has been widely praised for its powerful translation of research and lived experience into an accessible and emotionally truthful format. Building on this success, a feature film informed by the research is now in development, supported through ESRC IAA Impact Accelerator funding and NIHR ARC East of England.
The quality and impact of the Lost Mothers Project have been recognised through a Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence (2025) and the Criminal Justice Alliance Award for Research Excellence, which the project won. Academic publications arising from the research are under review, alongside policy briefings and practitioner-facing outputs.
Next steps include continued dissemination of findings through policy engagement, practitioner training and public-facing work, alongside further research examining post-release experiences, long-term outcomes for separated mothers and babies, and alternatives to separation. There is strong interest from stakeholders in further thematic work and follow-on research in this area. We currently in partnership with Clean Break working on a short film funded through ESRC IAA money, NIHR ARC EoE and Firebird Collective.
Papers and resources
This project can be viewed in a case study format for easy accessibility
For more information, visit the project website
Who was involved?
- Principle Investigator: Laura Abbott, University of Hertfordshire
- Birth Companions
Contact
Laura Abbott, l.abbott@herts.ac.uk
