Activist and model Katie Piper has stated she does not believe in the incarceration of women, advocating instead for rehabilitation and support programs. Piper, 42, has hosted two prison documentaries, including "Katie Piper: Locked Up in Louisiana" in 2025 and "Katie Piper's Jailhouse Mums" in 2023, which have informed her views on women in the justice system.
Speaking to The Times, Piper expressed a belief that all individuals are susceptible to life-altering circumstances, stating, "I really believe that all of us are one bad decision or one bad day away from that happening to us." She emphasized that rehabilitation is a more effective approach for women, particularly those who have experienced domestic violence and acted in self-defense.
"Often women are defending themselves in domestic violence situations, they have no previous criminal record and in a moment of self-defence they commit murder or serious assault," Piper explained. She believes in "rehabilitation in other programmes to support and empower women to get them well again mentally and physically."
Piper's experiences while filming her documentaries have provided her with insights into the lives of incarcerated women. During a visit to New Orleans Parish Prison last year, she recounted that inmates made critical remarks about her facial scars, with some suggesting she had harmed herself while cooking methamphetamine.
Piper herself is a survivor of a brutal acid attack in March 2008, orchestrated by her ex-boyfriend Daniel Lynch and carried out by Stefan Sylvestre. The attack occurred after she ended a violent and abusive relationship with Lynch, during which she had also been raped and severely beaten. The sulfuric acid attack left her with severe third-degree burns across her face, neck, chest, and arms, and caused blindness in one eye.
Lynch was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2009, while Sylvestre received a six-year sentence. Sylvestre was released on license in 2018 but recalled to prison in 2022 for license breaches.
In her work as a volunteer in prisons, Piper has observed a significant misconception about the incarcerated population. She noted in an interview with Prison Radio in May that for some women, prison is the first time they have access to support services, and for many, it is the first time they feel safe and protected. Piper believes the outside world needs to address prejudgment and misconceptions surrounding incarcerated individuals.