Custodial Settings Research Articles

Behaviour management or institutionalised repression? Children’s experiences of physical restraint in custody

AbstractThis article reports on a study of children's experiences of being physically restrained by staff in a range of custodial settings. The research was carried out in collaboration with a team of young researchers, and generated rich and insightful accounts of children's experiences of legitimised violence in the form of ‘restraint’. These lead us to reflect on whether this is a normal and justifiable feature of custody, or as oppressive and unacceptable to the extent that it represents a form of brutalisation, and an unnecessary, unjustifiable and repressive form of control, where the rights of children are routinely transgressed.

Microelimination of Chronic Hepatitis C by Universal Screening Plus Direct-Acting Antivirals for Incarcerated Persons in Taiwan.

BackgroundIncarcerated persons are a special population with higher hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence and should be prioritized for microelimination. In this study, we investigate the seroprevalence and evaluate the effectiveness and safety of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy in custodial settings.MethodsIncarcerated persons in Yunlin Prison were recruited to receive anti-HCV antibody screening. Patients with positive HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) were treated with glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) in our special chronic hepatitis C (CHC) clinic in prison. The primary endpoint was sustained virologic response at week 12 off therapy (SVR12).ResultsA total of 1402 incarcerated persons were invited to anti-HCV screening and 824 (58.7%) accepted. The prevalence of anti-HCV positivity was 33.5% (276 of 824), and the viremic rate (detectable HCV RNA) was 69.2% (191 of 276). According to fibrosis index based on 4 factors, patients with F3 stage were 6 (3.1%), but none met the criteria of F4 stage. However, 6 (3.1%) had liver cirrhosis with splenomegaly, confirmed by findings of ultrasonography. The median log10 HCV RNA level at baseline was 6.235 (2.394–7.403). Genotype (GT) 6 was predominant (39.3%), followed by GT 1a (22.0%) and 1b (14.1%). Mixed GT HCV infection accounted for 3.6% of total infections. In total, 165 patients received GLE/PIB therapy. The overall SVR12 rates were 100%.ConclusionsDirect-acting antiviral therapy is highly effective and safe for incarcerated patients in Taiwan. Our special prison-based CHC clinic, linking universal screening to medical care, can serve as a model for microelimination of HCV in custodial settings.

The engagement of young people in drug interventions in coercive contexts: findings from a cross-national European study

Background The engagement of young people has been a neglected area in youth justice and drug policy and practice. This paper explores the concept of ‘engagement’ in relation to drug interventions in custodial and community settings in different European countries. Methods Interviews were undertaken with young people (aged 14–25 years) in contact with the criminal justice system who use illegal drugs and with practitioners involved in the delivery of interventions for our target group in Denmark, Italy, Poland, and the UK. Results The key techniques to engage young people were described in similar terms across the countries. These included forming relationships based on trust, honesty, and empathy, setting goals collaboratively, and employing practitioners with lived experience and understanding. The objectives and activities on offer are often constrained by criminal justice contexts. Conclusions Despite the differences between the countries in terms of criminal justice systems and the structure of drug interventions, there were remarkable similarities in the ways young people and practitioners described effective engagement. Strong emphasis on operational engagement to ensure positive relationships between young people and practitioners was important in the design and delivery of interventions. Practitioners working in criminal justice contexts need to have flexibility and autonomy to work creatively to find ways to engage, connect, and inspire young people.

The impact of the secure custodial setting on re-engaging incarcerated children with education and learning – A case study in the UK

As many as 90 % of incarcerated children and young people enter the secure setting disengaged from education. The nature of the secure custodial setting compounds the complex and challenging needs of the children, though efforts to understand this are limited. This paper reports on an ethnographic case study in one secure children’s home in England. Findings show that children can be re-engaged with education, relatively easily within a short space of time, given the right conditions. However, the secure setting was a defining feature, shaping the extent of this engagement. The implications of these findings are discussed and recommendation made.

The problem of security convicted persons in the custodial settings of the ministry of justice of Ukraine

The article explores the problem of defining the concept of security of convicted persons. The author analyzed the current normative legal acts, in particular, the Constitution of Ukraine, the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the Criminal Enforcement Code of Ukraine, the Laws of Ukraine “On Pre-trial Detention”, “On Ensuring the Safety of Persons Participating in Criminal Procedure” and departmental by-laws - legal acts. The article presents the opinions of domestic scientists of penitentiary orientation regarding the content of the concept of security convicted persons in the custodial settings in the science of criminal enforcement law and the current legislation. The article identifies six forms of ensuring the right of convicts to personal security: determination by the administration of the criminal correctional facilities the criterion of personal security of convicts; legal regulation of the personal security of prisoners; the authorities using risk-management measures; further resolving the issue of the place of serving the convicted person; ensuring the safety of convicts in connection with their involvement in criminal proceedings. The author conducted a historical analysis of the formation and development of security issues of convicts in the normative acts of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and independent Ukraine. The author argues that there are many reasons for the threats to the personal safety of prisoners in criminal correctional facilities. The article defines the concept of security convicted persons in the custodial settings - it is regulated by the current legislation and is provided by the staff of the bodies and criminal correctional facilities the protection of the rights and freedoms and legitimate interests of the prisoners while serving their sentences.

Novel Psychoactive Substances in Custodial Settings: A Mixed Method Investigation on the Experiences of People in Prison and Professionals Working With Them.

IntroductionNovel Psychoactive Substances (NPS), especially Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists (SCRAs), pose a substantial challenge to health and the security of the prison environment. This study analyses the phenomenon from the perspective of people in prison and that of professionals working with them.MethodsA phenomenological qualitative approach was used to analyze self-reported experiences with ‘Spice’ (NPS) among users in prison. A semi-structured questionnaire was also disseminated among professionals working in these settings to better understand (a) the impact of NPS on their work; (b) perceived issues on safety in their working environment; (c) approaches used to tackle the phenomenon and best practices.ResultsPsychotic events resulting from the collected Spice accounts (5) were marked by hallucinations, depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideations. Other emerging elements included fear, paranoia, inability to be with others, mistrust, breakdown and other risky behaviors. Overall, 186 responses from prison staff were collected across the country. 67% claimed NPS to have had a deep impact on their work as they commonly witnessed espisodes involving outbursts of anger, slurred speech, hallucinations, psychosis, and significant mental deterioration among those in prison. Some 91% have witnessed aggression at least once, with 53% experiencing direct harm. Suggested interventions included enhanced training and education (84%), improved detection (92%) and treatment and support services (93%).ConclusionsFindings highlight the urgent need for joint multi-disciplinary efforts to tackle the exponential escalation of NPS in prisons as well as to facilitate the recovery and societal reintegration of those affected. Phenomenology can be recommended as a valuable methods to study drug induced experiences.

Covid-19 emergency in prison: Current management and forensic perspectives.

The Covid-19 pandemic is currently a major worldwide public health problem. Contagion within prisons and in other custodial settings will need to be addressed promptly, but the management of preventive measures will be difficult due to overcrowding and inmates and officers' close physical contact. There may also be less access to care than in community settings. Accordingly, prisons are particularly vulnerable to outbreaks of infection, and in addition to the likely greater risks of contagion attention must be paid to the psychological problems that the pandemic can have on the prison population. Riots and episodes of violence have already taken place in various prisons. With the inevitable restrictions on social contact and family meetings, prisoners who already are at increased risk of mental illness and suicide are more susceptible to adverse psychological repercussions. From a forensic point of view, therefore, we stress the need for the development of a strong support network by mental health workers for the prison population.

Seeing is believing: The effect of prison-based insight-days on student nurses’ perceptions of undertaking practice placements within a prison healthcare environment

Prisoners' access to healthcare should mirror that of the general public, but is adversely affected by challenges in recruiting nurses to work in custodial settings, potentially impacting on prisoner well-being. To address this issue prison-based insight-days have been developed jointly by one university and prison to positively influence students’ views of undertaking placements in custodial settings because nurses are known to subsequently seek employment in areas where they have had positive student placements.A phenomenological investigation explored student nurses' lived experiences of prison-based insight-days. Questionnaires and interviews were used to gather qualitative data about students’ feelings both prior to and following the insight-day (n = 17). All data was thematically analysed resulting in four themes: pre-placement curiosity, escalating admission anxiety, calming down inside and post-placement decision making.The empirical findings showed that first-hand exposure to prisoners, and to the realities of a working prison, were crucial factors in dispelling stereotypes and addressing negative preconceptions of prison healthcare environments, as students could find prison placements unexpectedly appealing. Drawing on the findings, this paper recommends that facilitating prison insight-days within custodial settings may be one way to encourage students to undertake prison placements.

Speech and language therapy for adolescents in youth justice: A series of empirical single‐case studies

Adolescents in contact with youth justice are a vulnerable and marginalized group at high risk of developmental language disorder (DLD) and other communication difficulties. Though preliminary studies have demonstrated the benefits of speech and language therapy (SLT) services in youth justice, limited research has empirically tested the efficacy of intervention in these settings. To evaluate the extent to which intensive, one-to-one language intervention improved the communication skills of incarcerated adolescents with below-average (> 1 SD below the mean) language and/or literacy skills. A series of four empirical single case studies was conducted, using multiple baseline intervention design. Individualized intervention programmes were administered, and progress on outcome measures (probes) was evaluated throughout the baseline, intervention and maintenance phases using Tau-U, a non-parametric distribution-free statistic. Additional measures were used as secondary outcomes of the intervention, including standardized language subtests, subjective rating tools by participants and their teachers collected pre- and post-intervention, and a brief structured participant interview, independently administered by youth justice staff. Medium-to-large effect sizes, the majority of which were statistically significant, were detected on the primary outcome measure across the four cases, indicating improvements in the targeted communication skills. Positive results were also evident in comparisons of pre- and post-measures on standardized language subtests, subjective self- and teacher ratings of communication, and the participants' impressions of the interventions. For those participants who could be followed up, gains in language skills were generally maintained at 1 month post-intervention. This study provides further evidence of the efficacy of one-to-one SLT intervention for adolescents in youth justice in order to address language and literacy difficulties. These findings inform future SLT service provision for adolescents in these settings, with clear policy and practice implications. Future research should investigate the wider benefits to individuals' engagement in youth justice intervention and recidivism, as well as assessing maintenance of gains over a longer period. What this paper adds What is already known on this subject The high rates of DLD in youth justice is well known, with difficulties spanning multiple areas of language and literacy. SLTs are increasingly working in community and custodial youth justice settings, and a few preliminary studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of such work. What this paper adds to existing knowledge This study extends the evidence base of the efficacy of SLT for language and literacy difficulties in youth justice, using a series of four empirical single case studies. It is also argued that SLT should be more actively considered in planning multidisciplinary interventions for young people in custody. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? The results of this research support current moves to include SLT services in youth justice systems, and illustrate for clinicians currently working in this sector a way of structuring and measuring the impact of intervention services.

Prisons and custodial settings are part of a comprehensive response to COVID-19

Comment: Prisons are epicentres for infectious diseases because of the higher background prevalence of infection, the higher levels of risk factors for infection, the unavoidable close contact in often overcrowded, poorly ventilated, and unsanitary facilities, and the poor access to health-care services relative to that in community settings. Infections can be transmitted between prisoners, staff and visitors, between prisons through transfers and staff cross-deployment, and to and from the community. As such, prisons and other custodial settings are an integral part of the public health response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Restorative Justice Principles and Practices and the Discourse of Respect: A Case Study of a Teacher in a Custodial Establishment for Young Offenders

This study aims to explore discourses of respect in the Education Department of a Young Offenders Institution (HMYOI X). The research builds upon the existing literature on the concept of respect both in restorative justice and in prisons to develop a deeper understanding of perspectives on respect in custodial education. More specifically, the study examines a self-narrative elicited from a teacher working in a YOI in England to investigate the discourses of respect which prevail in a custodial institution. The research findings provide a better understanding of the discourses and dynamics of respect within an educational custodial setting and of some of the problems and challenges that need to be addressed in enhancing and assessing the use of restorative justice in prisons.

Feeling hopeful: can hope and social support protect prisoners from suicide ideation?

ABSTRACTSuicide is a major concern in custodial settings with prisoners identified as a high risk group. Much previous research is limited to focussing upon factors associated with increased likelihood of suicide. The current study investigates the potentially protective factors of hope and social support in a sample of 100 suicidal prisoners. Hope, especially the sub-component of agency thinking, and the perceived availability of social support were significantly related with lower levels of suicidal ideation. Prison suicide prevention efforts may benefit from incorporating hope focussed assessments and treatments. They should also consider an individual’s need for increased availability of social support.

Control of measles in a juvenile custodial setting in the wake of the recent US outbreak.

The recent US measles outbreak is the largest since 1992. It is just a matter of time before measles is introduced into a juvenile custodial setting. Are we prepared? Should we be prepared? This short article addresses steps institutional settings should take to prevent the spread of measles in a contained setting.

NICE Update NICE public health guidance update.

This article covers recent National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance relevant to public health with a focus on suicide prevention. The article concentrates on the 'Preventing suicide in community and custodial settings' guideline that underpins the recently published 'Suicide prevention' quality standard. The article includes actions that local organizations can take together to prevent suicide and to help people affected by suicide.

An investigation of putative exposure of staff to novel psychoactive substances in a prison

Abstract Issue In a prison in Scotland, an increasing number of incidents occurred where staff became unwell secondary to potential exposure to novel psychoactive substances (NPS) smoked by prisoners. There were high levels of concern for the safety of individual staff, and for establishment staffing. NPS use is a significant problem in custodial settings, and impacts individuals and establishments. Methods HMP and HPT led an incident response: HMP focused on prevention and direct management of incidents; HPT focused on exposure circumstances, clinical presentation and toxicological testing of symptomatic staff. A protocol was agreed between all agencies involved. Over 8 months, all incidents’ initial assessment and any subsequent clinical and toxicological results were collated and analysed by HPT. Results There were 19 incidents involving 16 staff members. Cases presented in clusters, in one instance 13 people presented over 5 days. Five presented in early 2018. Individuals reported a wide range of non-specific physical and psychological effects; some cases experienced severe impairment of day-to-day function. The most common effects were headache and fatigue but some reported sleep disturbance and confusion lasting up to 72 hrs. There were no significant clinical observations at hospital, and the 3 tests for toxicology were negative. Lessons The individuals affected by these incidents experienced physical and psychological distress, and impairment of daily functioning which impacted on the safe function of the establishment. It is unlikely staff presentations were due to toxicological effects from substances used by prisoners. It is possible their symptoms were psychosomatic. This could be further investigated, and consideration given to supportive intervention for staff affected by exposure to NPS. The investigation demonstrated excellent collaborative work between the prison, health services, and forensic laboratories in a novel investigation into NPS exposure in prisons. Key messages NPS use, and subsequent exposure to staff, is a growing issue in custodial settings. A combination of supportive interventions for staff, including reduction and mitigation of risk of exposure to NPS, plus control of substances use in prisons can help.

Designing 'Healthy' Prisons for Women: Incorporating Trauma-Informed Care and Practice (TICP) into Prison Planning and Design.

There has been growing acknowledgment among scholars, prison staff and policy-makers that gender-informed thinking should feed into penal policy but must be implemented holistically if gains are to be made in reducing trauma, saving lives, ensuring emotional wellbeing and promoting desistance from crime. This means that not only healthcare services and psychology programmes must be sensitive to individuals’ trauma histories but that the architecture and design of prisons should also be sympathetic, facilitating and encouraging trauma-informed and trauma-sensitive practices within. This article problematises the Trauma-Informed Care and Practice (TICP) initiatives recently rolled out across the female prison estate, arguing that attempts to introduce trauma-sensitive services in establishments that are replete with hostile architecture, overt security paraphernalia, and dilapidated fixtures and fittings is futile. Using examples from healthcare and custodial settings, the article puts forward suggestions for prison commissioners, planners and architects which we believe will have novel implications for prison planning and penal practice in the UK and beyond.

A structure and process evaluation of a police Watch House Emergency Nurse (WHEN) model of care

BackgroundIncreasing presentations to the Emergency Department (ED) via police (which include detainees, prisoners and community residing persons) and the increase in chronic and mental health illness in detainee and prisoner populations has prompted an increased requirement for healthcare delivery within the custodial environment.This study aimed to describe the Watch House Emergency Nurse (WHEN) role, focusing on structures and processes underpinning the role. MethodsIn this qualitative, descriptive study, semi-structured interviews were undertaken in 2015 with 14 key stakeholders from health, police, and ambulance services. Interviews were analysed using content analysis to inform the findings. FindingsImportant structural elements of the WHEN role included an ED triage competent registered nurse, a 2-day integrated training program, and clear guidelines to provide a framework for identifying, prioritising and managing healthcare needs. Important process elements were clear communication between nurses, police, and medical staff, and a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities to facilitate continuity of care and appropriate referral. The underpinning perceived benefit of the WHEN role was ‘safety’. This was in terms of personal, professional, and detainee safety. ConclusionThe structures and processes underpinning the innovative WHEN role provides a valuable foundation for guiding evaluations of other nursing roles in other early custody settings.

Offender Supervision, Prisoners and Procedural Justice

AbstractRelationships between prisoners and the staff responsible for them have long been considered a cornerstone of institutional legitimacy in prisons. Considerable research has focused on the everyday relationships between prison officers and those in their charge, but almost none on the relationship between prisoners and those who are responsible for their risk assessments within the custodial setting. Using semi‐structured interviews, this research elicited the perceptions of 19 sentenced prisoners with regard to the procedural justice of their interactions with offender supervisors. Organised around the core components of procedural fairness – voice, respect, neutrality, and trust – the article suggests that prisoners experienced a very limited degree of procedural justice, which negatively impacted their relationships with this important staff group and their prison experiences in general.

Feeling real and rehearsal for reality: psychosocial aspects of ‘forum theatre’ in care settings and prisons

This article discusses psychosocial aspects of a short drama module, drawing on observational research into the adaptation of ‘forum theatre’ by Odd Arts theatre company for people in educational, care and custodial settings. The course facilitated the enactment of life experiences and choices, enhancing self-awareness and reflective capacity. The drama space is considered as ‘third space’, and a transitional space, where participants play with creative illusion in what Augusto Boal called a ‘rehearsal for reality’. We argue that the use of third-space and third-position thinking is key to understanding forum theatre as a restorative practice both through rehearsal and in ‘playing for real’ before an audience – a symbolic community that offers the opportunity for recognition. Problems attendant on the performance of ‘false self’ arise where there is collusive avoidance of difficult issues because the value of forum theatre lies in the achievement of authorship and authenticity – or ‘true self’ – publicly performed and owned. It is this that allows individuals to imagine the possibility of creative living in the future.

The Complexity of Disengagement with Education and Learning: A Case Study of Young Offenders in a Secure Custodial Setting in England

This study explored the nature of disengagement in young people serving custodial sentences. This was in order to gain new theoretical insights into strategies for their reengagement with education. This is because 90% of young offenders who drop out of school prior to incarceration are reportedly disengaged (dropout being an indicator of disengagement). This paper reports on a qualitative ethnographic case study in one secure children’s home in England. Semi-structured interviews with 16 incarcerated young people were conducted from which five participated in in-depth case studies along with teachers and care staff. Data were collected as participants engaged with a learning opportunity over a period of time. Extending emerging theory of disengagement, findings showed that disengagement oscillated between both active and passive forms within the same individual and pointed to the need for a range of strategies needed for reengagement. This paper suggests that disengagement is complex where the physical and social context shapes how disengagement manifests. This has pedagogical implications for education in custodial settings and other at-risk children in alternative or mainstream education provision.