Sickle cell is a multi-system disorder that in the USA and the UK predominantly, but not exclusively, affects those of black and minority ethnic communities. The disorder is not widely understood, so, when a sudden death of a black man in official custody is blamed on sickle cell trait (for example, Martin Lee Anderson in the USA or Alton Manning in the UK) the worlds of health, criminal justice, and black politics collide. This ground-breaking book examines: The myths about sickle cell disease The context of racism in the criminal justice systems in the UK and USA The misuse of sickle cell trait to explain away sudden deaths in custody The historic neglect of health care within prisons in the UK and USA The lack of care for those with sickle cell disease within the criminal justice system The lessons both for criminal justice systems, and for human rights and sickle cell campaigners. The book will interest: Members of the sickle cell community, including families, voluntary groups, and sickle cell chapters Health professionals including doctors, nurses, counsellors, and specialist sickle cell workers Members of the legal profession, including those specializing in inquests, human rights, prison law, criminal law, actions against the police, immigration, and clinical negligence Those involved in the criminal justice system, including prison, police, court and probation services. Coroners and medical examiners Human rights, civil liberties, and justice organizations Advocacy agencies representing black communities University lecturers in criminology, sociology, social policy, 'race' and ethnic relations, law, nursing, and medicine

More than 125,000 children in the UK alone are 'sentenced' to separation from their imprisoned parents, mainly fathers. Gwyneth Boswell and Peter Wedge draw on extensive research and experience to examine the effect this kind of separation can have on the emotional development of a child and on family relationships. They make suggestions for work with prisoners and families in the light of current policy and practice and consider how best to support: * children coming to terms with conflicting emotions arising from fathers' imprisonment * fathers who may be teenagers themselves * mothers or carers coping with absent partners * prison staff trying to incorporate the family as a factor in rehabilitation. Examining the rights and needs of imprisoned fathers and their children and using case examples to demonstrate effective ways of maintaining contact and communication, this is an indispensable resource for all those working with the families of fathers in prison.