Portuguese Prison Research Articles

Social Support and Satisfaction with Life among Portuguese Prison Officers: The Mediating Effect of Anxiety

Social Support and Satisfaction with Life among Portuguese Prison Officers: The Mediating Effect of Anxiety

Results of Symptom Validity Testing in Portuguese Prison Inmates: The Influence of Educational Level, Age, and Conviction Status

Current guidelines for psychological assessment recommend the use of multiple validity measures in an evaluation protocol, particularly in forensic settings. As such, self-report instruments which detect distorted symptom reporting have become essential. We studied a pooled sample of 240 male inmates with the Self-Report Symptom Inventory (SRSI), the Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomatology (SIMS), and the Symptom Validity Scale–Version 2 (EVS-2). Concurrent validity was analyzed via correlations between all three symptom validity tests (SVTs), revealing strong associations (rho ranging from .72 to .79), and ROC analyses yielded areas under the curve (AUC) values over .9 for every model. Base rates of SVT failure ranged from 7.9 to 13.3% using the most conservative cutoff scores, although true and false positive rates were not established. Education was shown to have a statistically significant effect on the mean results of the three SVTs (rho ranging from − 162 to − 283), associating lower educational levels with more bogus symptom endorsement. The influence of age and conviction status (pre-trial vs. post-trial) on the SIMS results was statistically significant as well (rho estimates of .171 and − 232). With data showing robust construct validity and excellent predictive accuracy, the instruments were shown to be adequate for use in the Portuguese prison context, but further research is required, in particular using forensic inpatients and clinical populations, and including systematic data on the presence of mental disorders.

Crime in a prison cell: Epistemic cultures and institutional neutrality in an inquisitorial setting

A death that occurs inside a prison cell initiates a distinct set of procedures from those around a death on the outside. When a confined space within a penal institution of total surveillance and control becomes a crime scene, it may reflect the prevailing institutional cultures and the ways in which they react and adapt. This paper analyses the case of Marcos, who was found dead in a Portuguese prison cell which he shared with another individual. From the discovery of the body to the crime scene inspection by the police, and from the autopsy to the trial, the qualitative analysis of the inscriptions produced in this case reveals and highlight the epistemic cultures involved. As each culture is developed from the professional practices and modes of acquiring and using knowledge, the analysis of their logic contributes to an understanding of how forensic evidence is co-produced and appropriated in the Portuguese legal context. We identify five epistemic cultures: institutional defence, hunch, office, bubble, and ‘rubber stamp’. We argue that the apparent neutrality of an inquisitorial criminal justice system enables the development of particular ways of producing, understanding and using scientific knowledge and forensic evidence.

Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA): A validation study among prisoners.

There are numerous scales for screening cognitive performance and thus identification of any potential deficits, but in spite of the vulnerability of the prison population to such problems, there has been no adequate validation of screening tools specifically for use with prisoners or others in the criminal justice system. To validate the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) for use with prisoners. 100 adult prisoners in one Portuguese prison were randomly invited by clinicians to take part in this study. A same size sample of community-living adult non-offenders of similar age was selected from the MoCA's normative study database in Portugal. For both groups, the key inclusion criterion was fluency in the Portuguese language. All participants completed the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the MoCA, both in Portuguese translation. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated as an index of internal consistency and Pearson's r correlations calculated. Group performances were compared using independent samples t-test. Covariance analysis (ANCOVA) was computed with level of education as covariate. To measure the magnitude of the effect, was used. A receiver operating characteristics curve analysis was computed to evaluate the discriminatory accuracy of MoCA and MMSE. The MoCA showed a 'reasonable' internal consistency index (α=0.75) as well as positive and significant correlations with the MMSE. As a cognitive measure, however, the MoCA showed consistently superior psychometric properties and higher discriminatory accuracy (MoCA=89%) than the MMSE (65%). According to the Youden index, the optimal cut-off point for the MoCA is below 24 points, whereas for the MMSE, it is below 27. The MoCA is a valid cognitive screening tool for use with prisoners. Further validations against detailed cognitive evaluation would be a useful next step.

Religions and religious freedom in Portuguese prison: notes from the ethnographic fieldwork

Religions and religious freedom in Portuguese prison: notes from the ethnographic fieldwork

Factors Associated With Physical and Psychological Health Outcomes Among Inmate Women in Portugal

This study aims to identify the variables associated with self-reported physical and psychological symptoms and the perceived health status of inmate women in Portugal. Data collection took place in two female Portuguese prisons and participated in the study 232 women. Physical symptomatology was associated with having children, physical abuse in childhood, a higher number of chronic diseases, and anxiety. Older women, the experience of sexual abuse, and chronic diseases were associated with a worse perception of physical health. Psychological symptoms were higher in women that reported substance abuse before prison, chronic diseases, anxiety, and depression. Finally, a combination of the prior variables (sexual abuse, anxiety, and depression) and three additional variables (lower education level, not having contact with mental health services before prison, and being already sentenced) was associated with worse perceptions of mental health conditions. These findings can be used as a platform for future research, as well as a tool for prison policy regarding the particular gender health needs of inmate women.

Fugue for Four Voices: Building narratives through music behind bars

The project On the Wings of a Piano . . . I Learn to Fly was developed with four women in custody inside a Portuguese prison during 2013–2014 over a period of eight months. Weekly individual sessions focused on improvisation, composition, memorization, and learning repertoire. This one-to-one work with participants resulted in the presentation of three distinct public performances in different contexts and for different audiences. Community music principles of decentralization, accessibility and equal opportunity were the foundation of a strong triangular relationship between the participants, the music they played on the piano, and the facilitator. With the narrative of each participant at its core, this article explores different ways in which this project can be identified as community music, despite the emphasis on individual work with each of the participants. The importance of adapting to each participant’s personal needs, requests and skills is highlighted, as well as the value of the affection developed between facilitator and participants. The subjectivity inherent in the involvement of the facilitator as a researcher is discussed, and the pedagogic outcomes of the project are also considered as an important contribution to research on music in prisons.

Preliminary validation of bumby RAPE and MOLEST scales: Exploratory factorial analysis

Introduction Cognitive distortions are considered an important element to understanding the support mechanisms of sexual aggression. Different Instruments have been developed for the assessment of sexual abuse and rape. In 1996, Bumby [1] developed two scales to assess cognitive distortions in these typologies of aggressors, MOLEST and RAPE. This paper aims to present the exploratory factor analysis of both instruments in a forensic sample and presents a proposal of factor structure with subscales, based on the conceptual models of Ward and Keenan [2] and Ward [3]. Materials and methods The data for this study were collected at Prison in Lisbon District (Portugal) between 2017-2019 after prior approval of the Directorate General for Reinsertion and Prison Services (DGRSP). From a total of 266 individuals (male) convicted by sexual abuse and rape, it was possible to obtain N = 71 (Age: M = 43.8 SD = 11.69; relations: 47.9% was married or in union; 32.4% has High School Education). Were excluded initially from sample, analphabets and non-Portuguese’s. All individuals were invited to participate in the study being explained that it was confidential and would not be benefitted or harmed for participate. The instruments used were MOLEST (38 items) and RAPE (36 items), both developed by Bumby (1996, Portuguese version by Baúto, Cardoso & Leal, 2014). For the data treatment was used IBM© SPSS© Version 20. All ethical principles have been considered and approved by the Portuguese Prison Services. Results Significant levels of reliability and validity for both Scales were found. Regarding MOLEST Scale we tested the possibility of subscales, generated by grouping of items based on the varimax rotation method with principal component analysis. In the case of MOLEST, five sub-scales were defined and, in the RAPE, four sub-scales, categorised according to the Ward & Keenan [2] and Ward [3] models and defined as implicit theories. With reference to MOLEST we found a KMO = 0.607 (mediocre) with good Cronbach alphas for each of the five sub-scales (α = 0.912; α = 0.859; α = 0.856; α = 0.868; α = 0.799). These five subscales explain 44.85% of total variance. The RAPE has a KMO = 0.658 (mediocre) and four subscales have been defined which also have good Cronbach alphas (α = 0.867; α = 0.877; α = 0.839; α = 0.906). This sub-scale proposal explains 42.45% of the variance. Discussion and conclusions The exploratory factorial analysis presents itself as promising, and it is necessary to use in the next phase a confirmatory factorial analysis that allows to test the consistency of the proposed model. The categorisation of the scale enhances its use in clinical practice, allowing the identification of primordial modes of functioning by the evaluated subjects.

(Dis)trusted outsiders: conducting ethnographic research on prison settings

This article aims to contribute to the growing body of literature that critically reflects on the practical, ethical and relational challenges raised by conducting research in prison. Basing our work on three different studies developed in Portuguese prison settings, we develop an intersectional understanding of building (dis)trust in prison settings by reflecting upon researchers’ characteristics and relational dynamics with people in the field, whether they are professionals or prisoners.

The Sustainability of the Portuguese Prison System: A Criminal Justice System in Masculine Form?

Society has undergone an entire evolution in the field of criminal penalties, as people want to avoid, or ideally to extinguish, crime and consequent victimization. However, the human nature would hardly allow such utopian society to prevail. Hence, as individuals, we do have codes and bylaws that govern our society. The number of male prisoners is considerably higher in comparison to female prisoners. The aim of the present research is to analyze the sex inequality in the Portuguese criminal justice system, as well as to discuss the following questions: (i) Are men suffering from unjustifiable discrimination by the criminal system? Or, (ii) are there any physical and psychological differences between both sexes? A quantitative and qualitative approach was used. A legal framework was created regarding penalty enforcement, followed by a review of the literature approaching themes of criminology, victimization, and sex inequality. To enrich and empirically support this research, the statistics provided by the Directorate-General for Justice Policy of the Ministry of Portuguese Justice are presented, and a descriptive analysis on the evolution of the number of inmates in Portuguese prisons and juveniles detained in educational centers, between 2010 and 2019 was performed. Implications of this study are is discussed to highlight mediation in criminal cases as a neutral future.

Female Imprisonment: An Ethnography of Everyday Life in ConfinementC.Frois. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan (2017) 231pp. £109.99hb ISBN 978‐3‐319‐63684‐9

Female Imprisonment: An Ethnography of Everyday Life in ConfinementC.Frois. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan (2017) 231pp. £109.99hb ISBN 978‐3‐319‐63684‐9

Incarceration as Violence: Inflicting Pain in Portuguese Prisons*

This article sets the groundwork for understanding prison violence as a broad and interrelated phenomenon which is bound by shifting notions of legitimacy. We argue that the concept of violence can help understand how the “pains of imprisonment” are inflicted and punishment is produced in different prison settings. Drawing upon fieldwork carried out in several Portuguese prisons, we describe how unequal sets of circumstances are imposed on groups of inmates, who become differently exposed to the deprivations of confinement. Our argument is that the various types of prison violence should be understood against this backdrop, as well as relationship to the diverse circumstances in which they are produced and the subjectivities of the individuals involved.

Predicting Sexual Offenders' Specialization/Versatility: The Role of Impulsivity and Moral Reasoning.

The main purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the predictive ability of impulsivity and moral reasoning on offending specialization/versatility. The latter was measured using the diversity index which calculates the amount of variation within an individual's criminal history. The sample consisted of 88 individuals convicted of sexual offenses incarcerated in a Portuguese prison. Group comparisons and multiple linear regression analyses on untransformed and corrected versions of the diversity index were conducted. Overall, the different versions of the diversity index presented disparate results. Individuals were found to be generally alike, but those convicted of rape tended to be more versatile than those who molested extrafamilial children. Moral reasoning was the strongest predictor of offending specialization/versatility, while impulsivity was mostly not statistically significant. A better understanding of these predictors' roles on offending specialization/versatility, as it relates to recidivism, is important to tailor successful interventions.

UMA FUGA A VÁRIAS VOZES

Na Música, uma fuga é uma composição onde várias vozes dialogam, perguntam e respondem, perseguindo-se entre si num contraponto rico em simetrias e inversões. No contexto de uma prisão, a palavra fuga adquire um significado mais complexo que vai para além da fuga do corpo às paredes e ao arame farpado da reclusão: o corpo está preso, mas o espírito não se consegue algemar. Na apresentação de hoje contam-se histórias de como a música tocada ao piano deu asas para voar. Do contraponto entre as vozes dos participantes de 2 projetos em duas prisões portuguesas faz-se o caminho que revela novas formas de fazer Música na Comunidade, explorando os princípios da inclusão, da democratização e da participação ativa comofundamentos de todo o trabalho.

Assessing prison adjustment among young adult offenders: Changes, correlates, and outcomes

This longitudinal study investigated the self-reported adjustment of 75 young adults (aged 17–22 years) newly admitted to a Portuguese prison, and examines changes, correlates, and outcomes of their prison adjustment. The prisoners were assessed at the first, third, and sixth month after their entry in prison. Regression analyses revealed that, overall, adjustment problems remained relatively stable during the first six months of incarceration. Having more prison visits, a lower educational level, and being White were associated with more adjustment problems in general. Adjustment problems were, in turn, associated with subsequent mental health symptoms and severe disciplinary infractions. The current study shows that self-report measures may be useful in assessing the adjustment of young adult offenders’ over time in prison.

White-collar offenders vs. common offenders: a comparative study on personality traits and self-control

Several studies have produced evidence of the existence of differences between common offenders and white-collar offenders. In Portugal, however, there is little or no empirical work on this topic. To fill this gap, a survey was administered to a sample of 137 incarcerated subjects in several Portuguese prisons, separated into white-collar offenders (n = 74) and common offenders (n = 63). For this evaluation, sociodemographic, personality and self-control variables were measured. The results showed significant differences between the two groups of offenders. White-collar offenders are older, have more qualifications and are mostly married or divorced, contrasting with common offenders, who are younger, less qualified and mostly single. Moreover, findings indicate personality differences regarding “openness to experience” in both groups. With regard to self-control, the General Theory of Crime is supported as no differences were found between both types of offenders. The results are discussed and the implications of the findings are outlined.

Intervenções artísticas em estabelecimentos prisionais portugueses: estudo multidimensional sobre dinâmicas e impactos

Resumo Este estudo analisa as dinâmicas e os impactos de projetos artísticos e culturais implementados em estabelecimentos prisionais. A partir dos dados recolhidos no terreno em três estruturas portuguesas, inserindo-se em um quadro metodológico intensivo, procurou-se compreender as implicações de intervenções artístico-sociais em instituições desta natureza. Partindo das observações e das entrevistas efetuadas foram detectadas algumas dinâmicas associadas ao desenvolvimento das atividades. Identificaram-se diferentes tipologias de impactos referidos à estrutura, aos profissionais e aos reclusos participantes. Foram verificadas dinâmicas inter-relacionais internas às estruturas e também associadas ao diálogo com o contexto territorial. Encontraram-se categorias que evidenciaram de que forma as atividades artísticas propostas tiveram repercussões nas pessoas que participaram. De forma específica, foram identificadas três grandes categorias de impactos na vida da população reclusa: o nível intrapessoal, a nível interpessoal e em suas relações com a própria instituição.

Pornography Use by Sex Offenders at the Time of the Index Offense: Characterization and Predictors

The purpose of this study was to characterize and predict sex offenders’ pornography consumption at the time of the index offense. Participants were 146 male sex offenders incarcerated in a Portuguese prison establishment. A semi-structured interview and the Wilson Sex Fantasy Questionnaire were administered. While for some individuals pornography did not appear to play a role in their offenses, there were others whose prolonged use led to more sex fantasies and urges to enact the visualized contents. As pornography does not have the same effects on all people, management officials should bear this in mind when tailoring specific treatment programs.

The HIPPOCRATES Project: A Proof of Concept Promoting HCV Microelimination Strategy Plan in Prisons

Background & Aims: In the last few years we have witnessed a revolution in the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. With the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA), sustained virological response (SVR) is achieved in more than 95% of the patients. The focus is now being turned on to high-risk groups, with the aim of achieving HCV elimination by 2030. Prison inmates constitute one of the high-risk groups, and they receive treatment less frequently due to barriers in access to health care. The aim of this study is to describe the management and follow-up of a cohort of HCV monoinfected patients treated with DAA in the prison setting. Methods: A prospective observational study was performed including all prison inmates monoinfected with HCV, from April 2017 to March 2018 in a Portuguese prison. Demographic, clinical and laboratorial data, as well as transient elastography measurements, were collected onsite by the medical team and prospectively recorded. Patients were treated with DAA according to international guidelines. SVR rates and adverse events were analyzed. Results: 67 monoinfected HCV male inmates (mean age of 42,4 ±8,1 years) were enrolled. 72% reported history of injecting drugs or tattooing, with 44% of the latter being made in prison. 78% referred alcohol consumption of more than 30 g/day. The most prevalent genotype was 1a (54%), followed by 3 (30%) 4 (9%) and 1b (8%). Pretreatment fibrosis degree was mild-to-moderate (F0-F2) in 78% and severe in 22% (F3-F4). Treatment regimens chosen were: 52% elbasvir/grazoprevir, 30% sofosbuvir/velpatasvir and 18% sofosbuvir/ledispavir. No major adverse events were observed. SVR rate was 100%. Conclusions: In a population considered hard-to-access and a cornerstone for HCV elimination, the doctors' visits to the prison setting, as well as the assisted medication administration lead to a 100% rate of SVR. Funding Statement: The authors declare: None. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare: None. Ethics Approval Statement: This study was conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki. The ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Centro Hospitalar Sao Joao and Porto's correctional system. Informed consent was obtained from each patient before each treatment.

Victim Crossover Index Offending Patterns and Predictors in a Portuguese Sample.

Sex offenders who cross over in victims' age, gender and relationship usually have a greater number of victims, which is associated with sexual recidivism. This investigation aimed to examine the prevalence of crossover index offending in Portugal, and to explore the predictive ability of sociodemographic and criminological variables on this outcome. A retrospective sample of 247 male individuals incarcerated for sex offenses in a Portuguese prison was drawn from official records. From those offenders with multiple victims (n = 94), 48% had victims of different age categories, 10% had both gendered victims, and 12% had intrafamilial and extrafamilial victims. Comparative statistics and logistic regressions were able to identify variables that distinguished noncrossover and crossover offenders and that predicted crossover, respectively. While likely underestimates of the prevalence of victim crossover, these findings are compared to previous international studies and provide a better understanding of the phenomenon.