“They’re supposed to be our enemies …”: How Incarcerated Young Women Talk About Prison Staff

Abstract

This article sheds light on the relationship between detainees and prison officers in young offender institutions from the perspective of the young women in detention. Our analysis of 16 interviews shows that the women complain about feelings of powerlessness, discriminatory treatment and a lack of respect shown by officers. Torn between experiences of their own lack of power and sympathy for the officers, they carefully distinguish between the officers’ character and the tasks they are there to carry out. In the detainees’ reports, staff behaviour fluctuates between care and control, while also exhibiting infantilisation tendencies. The findings illustrate how, with respect to young women in particular, penal institutions must be especially careful to ensure that the young women’s lack of autonomy – an experience they have often encountered throughout their lives – is not perpetuated or exacerbated by time spent in prison.