80% of women prisoners suffer head injuries

The University of Glasgow research has found that almost 80% of women prisoners in Scotland have a history of significant head injury - mostly through domestic abuse, a study has found. The study states that 66% of inmates had suffered repeat head injuries for many years and 89% of participants said domestic violence was the most common cause. Of the 78% of women prisoners who had a history of significant head injury, 40% also had an associated disability. Researchers also found that violent criminal behaviour was three times more likely in those with a history of significant head injury, and that women with a significant head injury had spent three times longer in prison.