Lawless
Lab

Reproductive Health and Justice Research
at the University of New Brunswick

About the Lab

Martha Paynter

The Lawless Lab is a research group based in the Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences at the University of New Brunswick, led by Dr. Martha Paynter, RN PhD.

Our research sits at the nexus of reproductive justice and prisoner health, examining the health rights of people experiencing incarceration and advancing access to sexual and reproductive health care in Canada and internationally.

The lab takes its name from Dr. Paynter's 2025 book, Lawless: Abortion Under Complete Decriminalization (Fernwood Publishing), which examines what becomes possible when abortion is fully removed from the criminal law.

We work in close collaboration with community organizations, lived-experience experts, and interdisciplinary partners to produce research that supports structural change.

Team

Dr. Martha Paynter

Dr. Martha Paynter, RN PhD

Principal Investigator

Martha Paynter (she/her) is an Associate Professor at the University of New Brunswick Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences. A nurse, writer, and public scholar, she is recognized internationally for her expertise at the intersection of reproductive justice and prisoner health. She is a recipient of the 150th Anniversary Medal from the Senate of Canada (2017) and the King Charles III Coronation Medal (2025).

marthapaynter.ca ↗

Clare Heggie

Clare Heggie

PhD Candidate & Senior Research Coordinator

Clare Heggie (she/her) is a PhD Candidate at the University of New Brunswick. Her research focuses on prisons, rural health, and reproductive health. She is a core member of the Lawless Lab and co-author on numerous studies examining reproductive and sexual health access for incarcerated people in Canada and internationally.

Anja McLeod

Anja McLeod

Research Manager

Anja McLeod (she/her) is the Research Manager for the Lawless Lab. With a background in sociology and birth work, her focus spans reproductive justice, prison justice, community-engaged research, and knowledge mobilization.

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Aishwarya Heran

Research Assistant

Aishwarya Heran (she/her) recently completed her BSc in Neuroscience at McGill University and is now a Research Assistant with the Lawless Lab. She is interested in public health, reproductive justice, and equitable health service provision.

Research & Publications

Our work examines reproductive justice and prisoner health in Canada and internationally. Explore some of our selected publications below.

A Qualitative Study of Abortion Professionals' Perspectives on Doula Support Paynter, Heggie, McLeod & Norman (2025) · PLOS ONE The Experiences of Family Planning Health Professionals Providing Care to Incarcerated Patients Paynter, Heggie, McLeod & Norman (2025) · BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Abortion and Contraception Within Prison Health Care Paynter, Heggie, McLeod & Norman (2024) · BMC Women's Health
See all publications → View current projects →

Books

Current Projects

What Matters Most? Advancing Patient-Centered Abortion Care in Canada

Abortion care varies widely across Canada and the needs of abortion seekers from underserved populations are largely unmet. In this study, we seek to investigate what matters most to people in Canada when considering accessing abortion services, and to identify the specific decisions and decision-making needs of people seeking abortion.

Funded by CIHR Project Grant → Learn more

The Cart-Access Project: Advancing Access to Abortion for Underserved Populations Through Tools for Healthcare Professionals and People Seeking Care

A key problem in advancing access to abortion care is the lack of resources for healthcare professionals to identify and utilize appropriate approaches and strategies to facilitate equitable access. This multi-year project by the Canada-wide Contraception & Abortion Research Team (CART) aims to address this gap. Within this larger team, the Lawless Lab has been conducting research and developing resources to advance care for those with experience of incarceration.

Funded by Health Canada Sexual and Reproductive Health Fund

Ten Years of Changes to Maritime Abortion Incidence and Access

The Maritime provinces have long experienced unique barriers in access to abortion services. The potential impact of implementation of mifepristone for medication abortion has not yet been studied in terms of success in improving access. This study explores how abortion services have changed in the Maritimes since the implementation of mifepristone, providing a foundation to identify any ongoing regions, populations, and services with persistently poor access.

Funded by CIHR Project Grant

Provision and Access to Conjugal and Private Family Visits in Canadian Prisons

Evidence suggests that conjugal/private family visits (PFVs) can have a positive impact on the maintenance of family and personal relationships; despite this, there is very little research on the experience of conjugal visits in Canada. This project reviews policies governing the provision of and access to conjugal and/or PFVs in Canada, and works to understand the experience of accessing conjugal and/or PFVs from the perspective of incarcerated people and their families.

Funded by CBA Law for the Future Fund

Charter on the Sexual and Reproductive Rights of People in Prisons

More info coming soon!

Funded by CIHR Catalyst Fund

Development of a Theatrical Research-Based Performance: Mobilizing Findings from Research with Women and Gender Diverse People Experiencing Incarceration

More info coming soon!

Funded by SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant

A Mixed Methods Study of Sexual and Reproductive Health in Prisons for Women in Colombia

More info coming soon!

Contact

Contact us with any inquiries about the lab, research collaborations, or media requests.

Dr. Martha Paynter, RN PhD

Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences
University of New Brunswick

Contact us ↗

Art by Julia Hutt