Perspective Of Prisoners Research Articles

The priorities for a prisoner are food, being able to talk to their family, and taking a shower: the experiences of prisoners placed in emergency isolation due to COVID-19 in a Catalan prison

PurposeThis study aims to learn about the experiences of inmates who experienced long periods of isolation due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the Brians 1 penitentiary centre. This approach is relevant, as it sought to understand the experiences from the perspective of the prisoners during periods of isolation. The aim was to gain in-depth knowledge, based on the idiosyncrasies of this population, of their emotions and coping strategies in the prison context. This information that may be useful to prison institutions and prison primary healthcare teams to guide the organisation in future health emergencies involving the isolation of prisoners.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative interpretative phenomenological study was conducted. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 30 people who had undergone a period of isolation due to a COVID-19 outbreak in one or two of the last two outbreaks at the Brians 1 (Barcelona) prison in 2022, in the days following periods of social isolation. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using the content analysis approach, and were coded using the NVivo 12 qualitative software. The credibility and validity of the data analysed were increased through triangulation at different levels. In this study, data was collected from a heterogeneous sample of prisoners, capturing different views among the prison population.FindingsThis research gave us the opportunity to collect prisoners’ accounts of isolation due to COVID-19, in which it became clear that it conditioned the management of time and space in daily prison life. The restrictions amplified negative emotions such as anxiety, stress and restlessness and led to disruptions in communication with the outside world, daily prison activities and judicial processes. Despite these changes, the prisoners understood the imperatives of isolation and the need to adapt to the new situation for a limited period of time. Faced with the detrimental effect on their well-being, the prisoners employed coping strategies focused on emotional management, social supports and occupational engagement.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is subject to several limitations related to the characteristics of the sample. No women participated in the study as the modules studied were exclusively for men. People with impaired cognitive abilities, were not included. With regard to the method, it is understood that conducting the interviews in the days after the isolation may have influenced the content and enthusiasm of the participants. Despite these limitations, we are confident that the data triangulation may have given us reliable insight that will further our knowledge of prisoners’ experiences in this type of situation.Originality/valueThe issue of the negative impact of restrictive measures in the prison environment has rarely been studied from the perspective of prisoners. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to provide qualitative data on the experiences of prisoners during periods of social isolation due to COVID-19 outbreaks in prisons in Catalonia (Spain). The narratives allowed the authors to determine what impact the restrictions had on the emotional well-being and daily life of the prison population, information that can help prison institutions and healthcare teams understand how prisoners experienced this type of situation. The authors were also able to carry out an in-depth study of the coping strategies used by the prisoners to deal with negative emotions during the COVID-19 outbreaks, which may serve to guide the organisation of material and human resources in future emergencies or regimented situations involving social isolation.

Remaining silent during investigative interviews: a perspective of prisoners convicted for a serious crime

ABSTRACT The right to remain silent is a fundamental procedural safeguard for people accused of a criminal offense. Practitioners draw conclusions from the fact that a defendant makes use of the right to silence. Conversely, we know little about defendants’ perspective of the right to silence and their understanding of the possible risks involved in invoking this right. It was the aim of the current study to provide insights on defendants’ decision to remain silent and the reactions and consequences they experienced. We conducted four focus group interviews with 29 prisoners who served a prison sentence for a serious crime of at least three years in the Netherlands or Belgium. Overall, prisoners were in favor of remaining silent and recommended remaining silent over the full duration of their investigation and trial, or at least the pre-trial stage. The presence of co-suspects, attitudes towards police, and perception of evidence strength played an important role in the decision to remain silent. Legal assistance informed prisoners’ strategy decisions, especially for first offenders. When interpreting the findings it is important to consider that interviewees were mostly convicted of serious multiple perpetrator crimes. This might have contributed to the strong emphasis on silence as preferred strategy.

“Behind bars: Understanding prisoner perception of penitentiary rehabilitation in Kazakhstan”

This study focuses on identifying factors that, from the perspective of prisoners, contribute to positive perceptions of rehabilitation (correction) in prison. A survey was conducted of 645 soon-to-be-released inmates (530 males and 115 females) in five institutions, with questions covering demographics, incarceration details, access to social services, and personal values. The research revealed that male inmates tended to hold more positive views on penitentiary rehabilitation than female inmates. However, it was observed that the rigidity of the prison regime and the existence of chronic illnesses among inmates negatively influenced these positive perceptions towards rehabilitation. Furthermore, the implementation of diverse rehabilitation-focused initiatives by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), coupled with an awareness of rights and responsibilities and the presence of strong family values, has been linked to fostering positive perceptions of rehabilitation. These findings highlight the critical need for enhanced cooperation between non-governmental organisations and prison facilities, as well as the introduction of social work practices within Kazakhstan's prison system. Policymakers should consider these factors when designing evidence-based rehabilitation strategies, emphasising the utilization of social work technologies.

A social identity approach to mental health help‐seeking behaviour in prisoners: A systematic review

AbstractPrevalence of mental health difficulties is demonstrably higher in prison rather than general populations. Compounding this, prisoners often display a reluctance to seek help, which can undermine rehabilitation. Recent years has seen an increase in studies exploring the factors involved in help‐seeking behaviours amongst prisoners. However, many of these studies come from different disciplines and do not use an overarching theoretical approach. Consequently, policymakers face a difficult task of synthesising and interpreting the findings from different perspectives. Using a deductive thematic analysis informed by a social identity framework, this current study aims to synthesis the existing research and provide an overarching theoretical perspective. Eleven databases were systematically searched for studies exploring help‐seeking behaviours in prisoners with mental health difficulties. Results indicate that prisons represent sites of enactment of a specific institutionalised identity that inhibits help‐seeking behaviour. Three themes relating to (1) the maintenance of positive group identity, (2) ‘us’ and ‘them’, and (3) inhibiting prison context were identified. This review provides an overarching coherent narrative of the experiences and perspectives of prisoners help‐seeking behaviour. This can enable policymakers develop theory‐based approaches to support this vulnerable cohort. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.

Studi Kasus: Persepsi Warga Binaan Pemasyarakatan Laki-laki Indonesia tentang COVID-19

The prevalence of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in correctional facility has increased. Analysis of the handling of COVID-19 during the pandemic has never explored the perceptions of prisoners in prisons in Indonesia and it is important to know the perspective of prisoners in prisons. This research has never been conducted in Indonesia. The aim of this research is to describe the perceptions of male prisoners towards COVID-19 in correctional institutions in Indonesia. The design used by researchers is a case study. Data collection was carried out by in-depth interviews with five male inmates at Correctional Institution of Ambarawa Class IIA. The data analysis used is the Collaizi interpretation method. The results show that prisoners perceive it as normal and there are also prisoners who are worried if they contract COVID, prisoners also have attitudes and behaviors that support self-care in carrying out the COVID-19 health protocol. The conclusion of this case study is that prisoners during the COVID-19 outbreak followed officers' directions to comply with health protocols and obtain COVID-19 information from the media and officers

EXPOSED

This hybrid paper/artist presentation is focused on the interactive documentary EXPOSED [https://unjustlyexposed.com], which provides a cumulative public record and evolving history of the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on incarcerated people. EXPOSED documents the spread of COVID-19 over time, inside prisons, jails, and detention centers across the US, from the perspective of prisoners and their families. Original interviews combined with quotes, audio clips and statistics, collected from a comprehensive array of online publications and broadcasts, are assembled into an interactive timeline that, on each day, offers abundant testimony to the risk and trauma prisoners experience under coronavirus quarantine. EXPOSED launched on October 30, 2020. It will be updated weekly until December 30, 2021. The scale of the project is intended to reflect the scale of the crisis. On September 1, 2021, there were well over ten thousand quotes, statistics, and audio clips in the project database. On July 8th alone, the timeline includes over 100 statements made by prisoners afflicted with the virus or enduring anxiety, distress, and neglect. The monochrome, image-less, headline-styled interface, which allows viewers to step through thousands of prisoners’ statements, is designed to visualize their collective suffering, signal that the injustices they endure are structural, and demonstrate that the criminal punishment system in the US, itself, constitutes a public health crisis.

Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) for Canadian Prisoners: A Case Series of Barriers to Care in Completed MAiD Deaths.

Background: As of August 2020, 11 patients who were federally incarcerated in a Canadian prison requested medical assistance in dying (MAiD), and three received it. This case study seeks to understand the process of care as described by physicians involved in each of the cases that resulted in MAiD.Methods: During the summer of 2020, semistructured interviews were conducted with physicians involved in each known Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) MAiD case. Transcripts were summarized to illuminate details of the care process for each patient, highlighting barriers to patient-centered care.Results: Each case took place in a different province. One MAiD provision took place in a prison hospital, and two provisions took place after the incarcerated patients were transferred to external community hospitals. Case summaries highlight the physicians' efforts and challenges in assuring patient-centered care.Discussion: Physician experiences illuminate several barriers to care: CSC bureaucratic processes that forced longer wait times than typical for patients in the general public; challenges related to accessing release before MAiD application; knowledge of patient preference for location of death; concerns of voluntariness and confidentiality that are unique to CSC patients; and ethical considerations surrounding the presence of prison guards, police officers, and shackles at the time of assessment or provision. Reporting by the Office of the Correctional Investigator highlights additional challenges in these cases. Further inquiry is necessary to include the perspectives of prisoners and prison staff, and to consider how the evolution of new MAiD legislation will affect MAiD for prisoners.

Knowledge and cardiovascular disease risk perception from the perspectives of prisoners and staff in a Scottish prison: a qualitative study.

Prisoners have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to the general population. Knowledge and risk perception of CVD can influence engagement in preventative behaviours that lower an individual's CVD risk. This paper aims to explore prisoners' knowledge of CVD, and prisoners and staff's perceptions of prisoners' CVD risk. This was a qualitative study in which semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 prisoners and 11 prison and National Health Services staff in a Scottish prison. Data were analysed thematically using the framework method. Most prisoners had limited knowledge of CVD as they could not describe it or could only identify one or two risk factors or cardiovascular events. Both prisoners and staff viewed prisoners' CVD risk as either pertaining to one individual, or pertaining to the general prisoner population. Unhealthy behaviours that were believed to increase CVD risk were linked to three perceived consequences of imprisonment: mental health problems, boredom and powerlessness. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to explore the CVD knowledge of prisoners, and perceptions of CVD risk from the perspectives of prisoners and prison staff. Findings from this study indicate that CVD education needs to be a priority for prisoners, addressing knowledge of CVD, its risk and risk perceptions. Additionally, the findings indicate that individual and socio-environmental factors linked to prisoners' CVD risk need to be targeted to reduce this risk. Future research should focus on socio-environmental interventions that can lead to reducing the CVD risk of prisoners.

Perspectives of prisoners on alcohol and other drug group treatment approaches

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to describe what a sample of men in prison believe works well for the delivery of prison-based group alcohol and other drug (AoD) treatment programs. The authors hope the findings will help inform future practise in AoD program delivery in prison.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative research paper reporting on a thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with 30 male prisoners on their perspectives on AoD group treatment approaches.FindingsResults indicate that matching readiness and motivation to start treatment is important for group success. Program content must be relevant and delivered by empathic facilitators who maintain confidentiality. It would be advantageous if one of the program facilitators was a peer with personal experience of overcoming an AoD use disorder.Originality/valueAccording to the authors’ knowledge, this is one of few qualitative studies into the delivery of AoD treatment for men in prison and the only study of its kind in Australia. The consumer perspective is an important element in improving quality of treatment provision.

Does correctional education matter? Perspectives of prisoners at a male adult maximum-security prison in Zambia

It is widely believed that correctional education programs can significantly reduce crime and recidivism rates by rehabilitating prisoners into productive and law-abiding citizens. Several studies on correctional education focus on statistically measuring the impact of correctional education programs on recidivism and employment rates among ex-prisoners. However, little is known about how prisoners themselves perceive and experience such programs during incarceration. This qualitative study drew on empowerment theory constructs to explore correctional education experiences of ten male adult prisoners serving long jail sentences at a maximum security prison in Zambia. The analysis revealed the following: (i) correctional education is perceived as meaningful and relevant to inmates’ post-release employment needs; (ii) despite the transformation of prisons into correctional centers, correctional facilities are still characterized by coercive and oppressive practices that impinge on the effective delivery of correctional education; and (iii) correctional education, as currently provided, emphasizes economic objectives and neglects inmates’ broader rehabilitation needs. The implication is that correctional education may not be fully rehabilitative. It is recommended that the structure and delivery of these education programs should incorporate processes that offer a holistic remodeling of offenders’ behaviors.

Views on COVID-19 from Inside Prison: Perspectives of High-security Prisoners

People confined in jail and prison are especially vulnerable to outbreaks of communicable diseases such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Corrections officials across the country have responded by shifting institutional practices, including suspending visitation and programming, as well as releasing some prisoners early. Missing from leading accounts of COVID-19 in correctional facilities are the perspectives of prisoners. This study examined perceptions of risks and responses among a random sample of 31 high-security male prisoners in Oregon. In-depth interviews were conducted by phone in private attorney rooms between April and May 2020. Mixed method data revealed that respondents felt it was a matter of when, not if, the disease would spread throughout the prison system, due primarily to transmission from correctional officers. Yet prisoners were not highly worried about contracting the disease. This was due, in part, to being physically and socially isolated in restrictive housing, which in this instance they viewed as advantageous. Respondents believed the threat of the virus was being taken seriously by prison officials but lacked confidence in their ability to prevent an outbreak or effectively treat infected prisoners. Strategies are needed to mitigate the spread, fear, and consequences of COVID-19 in correctional facilities, as this disease has the potential to upend the functions and purposes of the American prison.

Critical Time Intervention: a qualitative study of the perspectives of prisoners and staff

ABSTRACTRelease from prison is a vulnerable period, especially for people with severe mental illness. Critical Time Intervention (CTI) can be effective in improving service access and reducing negative outcomes. Nested within a randomised controlled trial of CTI, qualitative interviews were conducted with trial participants in both intervention (CTI) and treatment as usual (TAU) arms, CTI managers delivering the intervention and associated professionals. Data were analysed using a framework approach.Four themes were identified: uncertainty about post-release plans; inadequate housing provision; support during transition; and continuity of care.Interviewees shared common concerns about transition into the community but CTI participants felt less anxious about release and reported receiving more support with housing, access to services and community reintegration than during previous periods of incarceration. Professionals raised concerns about the time-limited nature of CTI and the impact of austerity measures on the availability of support following CTI. Implications for service delivery will be discussed.

Ojcostwo – w wypowiedziach dorosłych sprawców przestępstw, odbywających karę pozbawienia wolności

The aim of this paper is to present the results of the research on the way of understanding the meaning of parenthood/fatherhood from the perspective of prisoners. The research group has been formed with ten adult men who are under sentences in chosen penitentiary. The main goal of this research is to find the answer for the following questions: How do the prisoners identify the father’s role in their life? How do they understand their fatherhood? The decision to use an individual interview was influenced by the nature of the research and the small research sample. The attachment theory of John Bowlby (1969) and the concept of criminal thinking style by Glen David Walters (1990) – are the main theoretical assumptions of the presented article. The imprisoned men make not enough efforts to build the positive and effective relationship with their children and families. The findings also show that for the individuals included within this study imprisonment had both positive and negative effects on how they identified as parents and consequently on the relationships they were able to maintain with their children. Most of the respondents identify themselves as “good fathers”, they do not see any problems in their behavior and decisions which provide them committing different crimes. The respondents find the resources of their problems in the social environment. They completely are not able to recognise the sources of their problems in their personalities. The second theoretical issue mentioned in this paper is connected with the attachment theory. It explains how the parent–child relationship emerges and influences subsequent development. The attachment relationship acts as a prototype for all future social relationships so disrupting it can have severe consequences. The respondents cannot build emotional relationships with their children because they experienced intense distress during their childhood.

Implementation of a problem-solving training initiative to reduce self-harm in prisons: a qualitative perspective of prison staff, field researchers and prisoners at risk of self-harm

BackgroundSocial problem-solving is one technique used to help reduce incidence of self-harm. Our study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of the adaptation and implementation of a brief Problem-Solving Training (PST) intervention to reduce self-harm in prisons.MethodsThe process involved i) adaptation of the training materials using focus groups with prison staff and prisoners, ii) training frontline prison staff to use the skills, and iii) implementation of the skills with prisoners at risk of self-harm. Qualitative interviews were conducted with prison staff, prisoners and field researchers and were analysed using a thematic framework to produce a model of the barriers and facilitators to the process.ResultsWe conducted 43 interviews across three prison sites. The interviews included 19 prison staff, 18 prisoners and six field researcher meetings. The adaptation to the training and intervention materials were well received. The findings identified the need to support training using a collaborative and flexible approach. Prisoner engagement was affected by their own personal circumstances and by a range of contextual issues relating to the prison environment. Implementation of the skills by prison staff were hindered by resource constraints, the prison environment and staff attitudes.ConclusionsWe found that it was feasible to adapt an existing intervention and contextualise it within the prison environment. Although we could train large numbers of staff it was deemed unfeasible for staff to implement the problem-solving skills to prisoners at risk of self-harm. Prisoners who engaged with the intervention reported a range of benefits. Alternative implementation mechanisms to tackle the contextual barriers proposed by staff and prisoners included delivery of the intervention using an educational setting and/or use of a prisoner peer-led scheme.

Rola piłki nożnej w niewoli niemieckich obozów koncentracyjnych na podstawie wspomnień Polaków

The purpose of this paper is to present what was the role of football in the Nazi German concentration camps of the Third Reich from the perspective of prisoners of Polish nationality. Football, as one of the most popular sports, was very important subject and activity for Poles who were imprisoned in the concentration camps of the Nazi Germany, despite inhuman conditions in which they lived. Based especially on memories of former prisoners we can conclude that football helped them to survive the difficulties of everyday life. The time of the football match was a substitute of normal life, which some of the prisoners remembered from the time before the Second World War and gave them a feeling of hope, freedom and justice by treating everyone equally. The football was used also for entertainment and propaganda purposes by the camp authorities.

Understanding facilitators and barriers of direct-acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C virus infection in prison.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health concern. Globally, 15% of those incarcerated are HCV-antibody positive (anti-HCV). Even where HCV treatment is available within prisons, treatment uptake has remained low. This qualitative study was conducted to understand the barriers and facilitators for the delivery of HCV treatment in prisons from the perspectives of prisoners. This is important to inform health messaging for HCV treatment within correctional institutions. Thirty-two prisoners (including eight women) with a history of injecting drug use participated in this qualitative study. Participants were equally recruited across four correctional centres (n=8 per site). Overall, 16 participants (50%) had chronic HCV at their most recent test, and two participants were awaiting test results at time of interview. Structural (eg proximity of health clinic) and patient-level (routine and motivation) factors were viewed as facilitators of HCV treatment within the prison setting. Structural (eg risk of reinfection) and social (eg lack of confidentiality and lack of social support) factors were perceived as barriers to prison-based HCV care and treatment. In conclusion, to increase HCV treatment uptake, prison-based programmes should implement (or advocate for) patient-centred treatment approaches that protect privacy, provide social support, and promote access to clean needles and substitution therapy to protect prisoners from reinfection.

Negotiating barriers: prisoner and staff perspectives on mental wellbeing in the open prison setting

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the perspectives of prisoners and prison staff in relation to mental wellbeing and the negotiation of barriers to accessing and providing support. This small-scale study includes the experiences of 11 prison staff and 9 prisoners within a Category D male prison.Design/methodology/approachA focus group was conducted with the prisoners and interviews with prison staff. Thematic analysis identified three core themes: “context enabling factors”, “barriers to accessing support for mental wellbeing” and “peer support roles”.FindingsPrisoners conveyed a reluctance in reporting mental health issues due to the fear of being transferred to closed conditions. All staff indicated the benefits of peer support roles.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research is required on a wider scale, as it is acknowledged that the findings of this study are from one prison and may not apply to other settings. Although there are barriers that may impact the reporting of mental wellbeing issues, there may be small relational steps that can be taken to address these.Originality/valueFew studies exist that explore the nuances and barriers within open prisons, perhaps due to the overwhelming need within closed conditions. A context-specific approach considering early prevention strategies to support a safer prison system and successful rehabilitation is explored. The combination of prisoner and staff experiences is of value to both academia and policymakers.

Reading Prisoners: Literature, Literacy, and the Transformation of American Punishment, 1700–1845

Reading Prisoners: Literature, Literacy, and the Transformation of American Punishment, 1700–1845

Visiting time

Prison visitation remains an under-researched and under-theorised aspect of prison life. Drawing on extensive fieldwork, this article takes an in-depth look at the lived experience of the prison visit from the perspectives of prisoners and their visitors. First, this paper describes the inherently problematic nature of current visits practice reflecting on the restrictions placed on prisoners and families and the longer term implications for their lives post-release. Whilst acknowledging these fundamental flaws, the paper then, describes what can make some visiting experiences more ‘survivable’ than others by comparing visiting experiences at two ostensibly similar prisons

Assisted suicide for prisoners? Stakeholder and prisoner perspectives

ABSTRACTFor a wider project on aging in prison, the authors interviewed 35 older prisoners and 24 stakeholders (prison staff, prison healthcare professionals, and policy makers) about healthcare for prisoners. In all, 6 prisoners and 3 stakeholders spontaneously expressed their attitudes concerning assisted suicide. Some prisoners seek assisted suicide for medical reasons and others because they regard spending the rest of their lives in prison as undignified. However, stakeholders identified several ethical and practical challenges in providing assisted suicide to prisoners. This article presents these perspectives on assisted suicide in prison and provides an ethical analysis of the issues raised.