“Arts-based approach” shows promise for reintegrating women with convictions

The research found that when trying to build a community, locally rooted arts organisations are particularly well placed to facilitate spaces for communities to come together and creatively explore justice and harm. The researchers therefore call for such organisations to be adequately resourced. The meeting spaces they work in should also be protected from closure or sell-off, including through community asset transfer.

Dr Havard said: "Transformative Justice identifies a role communities can play in addressing the complexities of harm and trauma. Our research shows once again that women are repeatedly let down by the criminal justice system. Reports of their experience of violence are too often ignored, driving them to seek justice for themselves. When incarcerated, mothers are separated from their children and sent miles away from home.

"This, coupled with inadequate technology in the prison estate makes it difficult to maintain caring and supportive relationships. In doing so, and in accordance with Transformative Justice assertions, the state and criminal justice system perpetuates the harm women have experienced. This research has demonstrated that using an arts-based approach, underpinned by Transformative Justice principles can create 'brave spaces' for people to share their experiences of trauma to build more united communities."

Dr Ian Mahoney, Senior Lecturer in Criminology at NTU's School of Social Sciences, said: "Our findings show that there is a desire for change and that people want to see justice done differently in their communities. The commitment to creativity and collaboration exhibited through The Hopeful Justice Collective's engagement with the project has been inspiring and showcased the importance of creating space and time for these important debates around our own relationship with justice and what can be done to create brave spaces for communities to come together and support one another."

Dr Chris Magill, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, University of Brighton, said, "It is time for radical change in the use of imprisonment as a punishment for women. This research adds further evidence to the need for alternative provisions. Supporting communities to support others, including women with convictions, to facilitate cohesion and integration, is a key recommendation from this research. Local communities, such as the one involved in this research, who named themselves the Hopeful Justice Collective, should be central to changing conversations around and social attitudes towards justice. Trauma awareness, physical spaces and time are essential if we are to transform justice for women with convictions.'

Dr Sarah Bartley, Senior Lecturer in Community Arts and Performance, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama: "Locally rooted arts practices offer space for communities to experiment with ideas through non-hierarchical modes of making and creating. Our research found that arts practice offers a valuable set of strategies for communities to re-envision our collective future together. More resources - in the form of training and sustainable financial support - are needed to leverage the significant contributions community arts organisations can make to building our capacity to engage with questions of justice, accountability and harm."