New Social Art School Women in Prison

You, Me, Us & Them

Women in Prison and Criminal Justice in Scotland

Publication Interviews and photographs by Eva Merz, 2007-2010

From 2007 to 2010, Eva Merz worked on the topic of female prisoners in the Scottish criminal justice system. You, Me, Us & Them contains a series of interviews offering different perspectives, opinions and first-hand experiences of this system.

Most importantly, the book asks questions of us, its readers. When interviewed, a retired judge admits: “One of the functions of prison is to let society forget about what goes on.” Do we, on the outside, know how many women are in prison or who they are? Do we even want to know?

With rising numbers of women in prison in Scotland, and no simple, single answer as to how this trend may be reversed, the interviews contained here encourage greater dialogue and a shift in public awareness.

The Hopeless (Situation), still from 'Girls Behind Bars', BBC documentary (2008).
Painting by Eva Merz, 120x160 cm (2008/09)

"Unfortunately some of the women believe that this is the safest and best home they’ve ever had in their lives."
Ian Gunn, Governor of Cornton Vale, 2006-2009

Please, find much more information in the sidebar here...

Zoe Shearer and Eva Merz in the studio working on 'You, Me, Us & Them' compositions, August 2010

This project was funded by Statens Kunstfond (Denmark) + Scottish Arts Council