An Introduction to the Team and Project

Abstract

This chapter and introduction to The Good Prison Officer: Inside Perspectives seeks to grapple with the question of whether people with prison experience should contribute to crime and justice literature, enabling them to explore and evaluate concepts such as rehabilitation, desistance, and recidivism. Illustrating the importance of coproduction, participation, and the inclusion of their unique vantage point to literature that seeks to improve prison and prison officer practice. The chapter aims to extrapolate whether the justice system should reduce the significant barriers for this group to have an integrated voice to influence practice and policy. First, drawing on the barriers experienced by this group that are often excluded from spaces and narratives that seek to improve the prison and justice system in its ambition and focus to reduce reoffending which demonstrates how ‘redemption communities’ can provide insight and perspectives that can positively contribute to criminology literature. Furthermore, outlining why this book is an inclusive and progressive approach to improving prison officer practice and developing a rehabilitative culture within UK Prisons. Signifying from an inside perspective that the power of relationships can carve out trusting relationships – even in the carceral space.