Glasgow-based Zinc label Tern TV is going behind bars at two of Scotland’s female prisons in a “rare and unfiltered” four-part doc for BBC Scotland.
Jailed: Women in Prison will offer viewers unprecedented access to HMP & YOI Stirling and HMP Grampian. The doc will follow both staff and prisoners as they navigate the challenges of daily life in the big house, from first-time offenders to those trapped in the cycle of reoffending.
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The 4 x 30-minute series examines its subjects crimes, revealing personal struggles and shedding light on the systemic and societal issues behind the crime statistics.
The doc will also explore the often-overlooked challenges faced by incarcerated women, whose needs are frequently overshadowed by a system primarily designed for men.
According to figures published on the Scottish Prison service website, the average number of women in Scotland in 2023-24 was 318, a 12.8% increase from 2022-23 and around four per cent of Scotland’s total prison population. This represents one of the highest numbers of incarcerated women in Northern Europe, and Scotland’s female prison population is rising fastert ahn its male equivalent.
In the doc, viewers will get a fly on the wall look at Scotland’s evolving approach to female imprisonment, showcasing both the struggles and successes of a “groundbreaking” new prison model north of the border.
Jailed: Women in Prison was commissioned by Steve Allen, commissioning executive for BBC Scotland and is executive produced by David Marshall. It is produced by Aneesha Hussain, with Chris McMillan series producing and directing.
Allen said: “Jailed: Women in Prison will give viewers a rare insight in to the day-to-day realities of life within two of Scotland’s female prisons, offering an honest and thought-provoking account of the justice system in action from the perspectives of those working and living in it.”
Marshall added: “This series offers a rare, unfiltered look at life inside Scotland’s female prisons. With unprecedented access, viewers will witness powerful personal stories, the daily realities of imprisonment, and the efforts to support and rehabilitate women in custody. It’s a compelling exploration of a world few ever see.”
Tern’s previous documentary successes include Thatcher vs The Miners, Being Gail Porter and Emergency: Helicopter Medics.
