Book review: Transgender Behind Prison Walls
| Date | 01 September 2017 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0264550517724040b |
| Published date | 01 September 2017 |
| Subject Matter | Book reviews |
topics, giving a strong sense of forensic work without overpowering early career
readers with information. A particular strength of the book is that it does not shy
away from examining the ever changing, and often frustrating, political climate in
which forensic psychologists work. Add to this a welcomed focus on the emotional
impact of the work on practitioners and commentaries about practitioners’ experi-
ences and what you get is a validating and valuable text. The authors also,
thoughtfully, pepper the chapters with reflective exercises to keep the reader
actively engaged.
To summarize, this is an essential text for those considering venturing into the
world of forensic psychology work. Likewise, it is a worthwhile text for more
experienced practitioners, of all forensic disciplines, looking for a resource that will
inspire them to re-evaluate the systems in which they operate.
Transgender Behind Prison Walls
Sarah Jane Baker
Waterside Press; 2017; pp. 160; £14.95; pbk
ISBN: 9781909976450
Reviewed by: Laura Wylie, PhD student, Queen’s University, Belfast
In Transgender Behind Prison Walls, Sarah Jane Baker provides a compre-
hensive insight into what life is like for those who are transgender within the
prison service in England and Wales. This book is long overdue and takes a
pioneering approach to dealing with a subject which has long been ignored by
the social sciences and society as a whole. The book itself is written by a
transgender prisoner currently serving a life sentence, and this lived experience
endows the book with authenticity, giving a real-life account of day-to-day life
within the prison setting. It provides valuable insight for different audiences, and
much needed information for transgender inmates, their families and prison staff
alike. Given the recent public deaths of transgender people within the HM
Prison Service and the subsequent media coverage, this book is a timely
addition to the discussion.
The initial sections of this book highlight the current issues that transgender
prisoners experience. Primarily focusing on the issues around placement of
transgender prisons, highlighting the inconsistencies in terms of polices through-
out different UK prisons, Baker also stresses the risks associated with being placed
inappropriately within a setting that does not match your gender, which provides
a compelling read as to why this issue can no longer be ignored. She also
addresses the commonly held belief that claiming transgender status will mean an
easier ride whilst within the prison system. Here Baker provides a strong counter-
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