Exploring violence in the lives of women and girls incarcerated at three prisons in Gauteng Province, South Africa

The prevalence of violence against women in South Africa has prompted a growing body of research into this problem. Absent from such local enquiries are women and girls in conflict with the law—despite the evidence from international literature which posits a strong relationship between female offending and prior experiences of violence. Seeking to explore South African women offenders' experiences, this article presents findings from a study conducted by the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) with women and girls incarcerated in three Gauteng prisons. It explores the women's history of abuse both during childhood and adulthood and offers some indication of the relationship between such violence and engagement in unlawful activities. The article suggests that for many women and girls who have experienced violence, arrest and imprisonment may represent the most significant—if not only—response by the criminal justice system to the circumstances of their lives.