Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Women in Prison: Pre-Prison Experiences and Post-Release Reintegration

When one migrates, under forced circumstances, from one’s home country to a ‘new’ country, they carry with them feelings of loss and hope: Loss of the life that one knew, hope for a more secure life. Migration journeys under precarious conditions are fraught with traumatic experiences. Women often make these migration journeys with their children, younger siblings, or other family members. While caring for their children or family members, to ensure their survival, they are also holding within themselves their own experiences of gender-based violence. Arrival in the ‘new’ country is met with multiple challenges, including differences in language, and culture, and the use of legalese. Often, just crossing a road seems daunting because of the unfamiliarity of the spaces. Where women can access formal support systems—government or non-government—they begin to rebuild their lives and to make every effort to shift from ‘surviving’ to ‘thriving’. Many engage in this endeavour of rebuilding by negotiating with or resisting the everyday and systemic challenges, without any support. However, given their deep sense of isolation, due to the lack of extended networks and social support, due to unemployment, homelessness, and genderbased violence, they often find themselves manipulated by people who offer to ‘help’ or provide emotional support. These so-called ‘support systems’ often pave their pathway to prison. This report documents the experiences of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) women, born in non-English speaking countries, now in prison in NSW.