Surviving in a small island state prison. Analysing prison officer support and assistance as narrated by people in prison

Abstract

This paper sheds light on male Maltese people in prison and their perception of help and support when incarcerated. Through thematic analysis, the viewpoints, thoughts, and feelings of 39 males incarcerated at Corradino Correctional Facility (CCF), Malta's only prison, were explored in relation to programmes aimed to help them in their desistance journey. Many individuals spoke to the lack of support they felt within this prison. Themes emerging from this paper suggest that relationships between incarcerated people and staff are not supportive of any rehabilitative ideal. Participants speak of the lack of induction, information, and support, and of being mocked when requesting information or assistance. They state that support is conditional on who they knew, including direct references to corruption.