Criminal Women tells the stories of four women who, in attempting to become women of their own making, became deeply involved in crime.

Throughout the book, tales from the underworld and the criminal business world are interspersed with inside accounts of life in the women’s prisons – Holloway, Styal’s ‘Bleak House’, Durham’s H. Wing, Askham Grange, Pucklechurch and Bullwood Hall.

These stories of criminal women are vivid chronicles of the times in which they have lived. They will be of great interest to anyone concerned with the diversity of ways in which women cope with life in a class-riven and still deeply sexist society.

Pat Carlen is author of Magistrates' Justice and Women's Imprisonment
Diana Christina lives in South London. Through painting and writing she aims to achieve 'self-integration, which is the art of living'.
Jenny Hicks currently works for Clean Break, the ex-prisoner's theatre company, and the campaigning group Women In Prison.
Josie O'Dwyer was Employment Development Worker for Women In Prison and is a member of the Clean Break Theatre Company.
Chris Tchaikovsky is a member of the GLC Women's Committee and the founder of the campaigning group Women In Prison. She has published numerous articles on women's imprisonment.