‘You know there is an easier way to get in’: The challenges of gaining access to female prisoners in England and Wales.

• In Event: Challenges & Innovations in Qualitative Criminological Research

Abstract

Methodology textbooks rarely describe the difficulties a researcher can face gaining access to participants. They set out the most appropriate ways of doing research, but often do not provide advice of what to do when things do not go to plan. Rubin and Rubin (2005:90) argue that ‘if the people you are looking for are considered vulnerable, they may be particularly hard to reach and then to convince to participate in your study.’ Obtaining access to female first-time short-term prisoners in England and Wales proved to be a challenge from the offset, and although it was never assumed access would be granted straight away, the difficulty of getting through the prison gates was underestimated. This paper firstly discusses the multitude of avenues that were explored in order to gain access to this group of vulnerable women in society, and secondly suggests ways in which prison access could be improved to allow for greater transparency in the prison system.

Author

• Isla Masson, University of Coventry