CHARACTERISTICS OF FEMALE PRISONERS Women in prison often come from disadvantaged backgrounds typically marked by economic deprivation, substance abuse, violence and household disruption. Prisoners also tend to have higher rates of illiteracy and lower levels of education than the general population.35 As the World Health Organization (WHO) has noted, alarmingly high rates of mental health problems are reported amongst female prisoners, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and a tendency to self-harm and commit suicide.36 SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ADULT PRISONERS IN ENGLAND AND WALES37 Women in prison Men in prison General population Taken into care as a child 31% 24% 2% Experienced abuse as a child 53% 27% 20% Observed violence in the home as a child 50% 40% 14% Experienced emotional, physical or sexual abuse 53% 27% – Reported mental health issues 65% 42% – Unemployed in the four weeks before custody 81% 67% – Identified as suffering from both anxiety and depression 49% 23% 15% Have attempted suicide at some point 46% 21% 6% Most women who are admitted to prison are mothers and many have primary care responsibilities for other family members. These responsibilities and relationships can play a role in women’s pathways to prison and are also fundamental to their rehabilitation prospects. For mothers, separation from their children can severely impact their mental wellbeing. Prison systems must take these factors into account when designing rehabilitation programmes for women. Penal Reform International and Thailand Institute of Justice | Guide to the rehabilitation and social reintegration of women prisoners | 13