Jailed: Women in Prison

This episode explores Wintergreen Hall, a specialised unit in HMP & YOI Stirling for women with complex mental health problems.

Linda and April are two prisoners who struggle with severe emotional and psychological challenges while seeking stability in prison life.

Linda, a repeat offender, views prison as a safe haven, fearing the outside world, where she has little support. Prison provides her with structure, routine and access to mental health care. She finds solace in her emotional support toy dog and earns a promotion within the hall, offering her a sense of achievement. However, a fear of release threatens her progress.

Battling past trauma and addiction, April prepares for release with therapy and life skills training. She fears relapsing, but remains determined to change. As she leaves, Linda struggles with her absence, dreading her own future outside.

Cheryl and Linda navigate rehabilitation and reintegration. Cheryl finds purpose in prison work and excels in the Greene King catering programme, securing a job offer upon release. Determined to change, she proves her leadership skills and gains newfound confidence.

Recently released Linda struggles with anxiety about life outside. Prison provided the structure and support that she fears losing on the outside. Reuniting with her best friend, April, who also battles a number of issues after release, the pair find strength in their shared commitment to staying clean.

Meanwhile, April faces an impending court date that could send her back to prison, threatening her progress. Cheryl's graduation from her training highlights the power of rehabilitation, contrasting the uncertainty Linda and April face.

Jade and Kelly are two women navigating life inside HMP & YOI Stirling and HMP & YOI Grampian. Jade finds structure in her kitchen job, but fears relapsing as she awaits sentencing for further charges. Her journey highlights the challenges of addiction recovery within the prison system.

Kelly struggles with withdrawal and the shock of imprisonment. Once living a stable life, she lost everything to substance abuse and now longs to reunite with her children, viewing prison as a wake-up call. A missing medication incident creates tension, forcing her to navigate prison's unspoken rules.

As their court dates approach, Kelly secures her release, determined to rebuild her life, though Jade receives another sentence whilst inside. With support from recovery mentors, Jade commits to changing her future.