Fathers in Prison by Tess Bartlett

Fathers in Prison by Tess Bartlett

Crime is a gendered phenomenon. Males make up over 90% of the prison population in most developed countries, and yet paradoxically, discussions about gender and male imprisonment, especially with regard to fathers, do not dominate academic discourse. This book examines the experiences of imprisoned fathers and provides insights into fathers’ experiences of imprisonment and release within Victoria, Australia.

It offers new theoretical perspectives on masculinities, identity (and the self), and carceral space and argues that fathers continue to be largely overlooked throughout the criminal justice process. Fathers in Prison calls attention to the systemic, structural, and societal issues that act as barriers to fathers and their children who are looking to maintain contact during imprisonment and upon their release. In so doing, it reimagines the prison and post-release space and what these could look like if the policy approach was gender-responsive and focused on the whole family.

This book will be of interest to criminologists, penologists, and sociologists studying gender and imprisonment. It will also be useful for social workers, prison practitioners, and policymakers interested in family-focused rehabilitation measures.

Tess Bartlett is a senior report writer/analyst at the Waitangi Tribunal Unit (Ministry of Justice) in Wellington, New Zealand. Her research lies at the nexus of masculinities, identity, and fathering, and how these are expressed in the prison environment. In 2023, she published a co-edited book (with Rosemary Ricciardelli), Prison Masculinities: International Perspectives and Interpretations.