Women veterans in prison

A new report from Salute Her UK and Forward Assists shines a light on the hitherto hidden population of women veterans in contact with the criminal justice system.

This new research is based primarily on interviews with 30 women veterans aged between 38 and 67 years old.

The women interviewed for this research had very different experiences of service life. Some found military service to have been a very positive experience and their difficulties only started when they left, due to a lack of ‘women only’ support services. Others reported that sexual assault, bullying, harassment and ‘name calling’ during military service caused them long term psychological damage, to both their sense of wellbeing and self-identity.

Examples of a lack of empathy for any biological issues relating to woman’s health were frequently discussed. Several of the women said their gender specific health needs were frequently dismissed, minimised or trivialised.

The women veterans also said that they felt humiliated degraded and dehumanised by sexual objectification and abuse from male colleagues or when they needed to remove clothing to urinate on field exercises or overseas operations. This so called ‘banter’ did nothing to recognise their professionalism, contribution or dedication to duty.

Arrest

Being in police custody can be a frightening place for many people, but even more so for those with mental health illnesses such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, where the psychological triggers can be considerable. Often such cells have harsh lighting and smell strongly and can be loud, noisy and distressing.

Many of the women interviewed suffered from adverse mental health outcomes such as Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. Feelings of shame and isolation were common:

" I was a single Mum and struggled financially. I would feed my daughter before myself. I turned to a certain Facebook group for women officers and told them I had been arrested. I was castigated and ridiculed, one person said I was an embarrassment to Sandhurst and that I had wasted my officer's training.”

Probation

Interviewees reported mixed experiences of the Probation Service. Several women said they felt that the service was there to punish them rather than support them. Others had a positive relationship, yet, felt they had limited options or choice in relation to the services commissioned by the Probation Service to address areas such as Employment, Training & Education, Accommodation, Personal Wellbeing and/or Women specific services.

“I feel really vulnerable waiting in the Probation Office waiting room with men. To survive financially, I joined an escort agency. I hate myself, I am not the person I have become. My Probation Officer is very judgemental of my choice of employment and I don’t trust her, I always feel worse when I come out of a meeting with her and she seems to be obsessed with my sexuality, always asking if I’m gay.”

Prison

Again, the women who participated in this study had varied experiences of being in prison. For five of the nine women who were sentenced to a custodial sentence, receiving adequate mental health treatment without long waiting lists was viewed as a bonus. They reported feeling safe and for the first time didn’t feel like they were judged as they had been in the community. They also liked the structure and security that prison offered, they didn’t have to worry about paying bills or how to afford food. The quotes reproduced below show this range of experiences:

‘’I didn’t feel safe, I would prefer to be locked in my cell all day. I was triggered on a daily basis because of all the violence I witnessed’’.

“It’s a blessing and a curse being ex-military in a prison. The Prison Officers that are ex-forces look after you, but you know they wouldn’t give you the time of day if they met you on the outside as I am one of life’s failures.”

Conclusion

The researchers identified a central theme running throughout the interviewees’ stories of their lives: the CJS system did not identify them as veterans and could not meet their needs. Women veterans’ complex needs were missed at every stage through the lack of appropriate referrals. The women veterans who participated in the research viewed the system as broken, not fit for purpose and out dated.

Readers interested in this subject can read the full report here.