Prison Programs Research Articles

The needs and experiences of mothers while in prison and post-release: a rapid review and thematic synthesis

BackgroundWomen in prison are a vulnerable group, often with a history of abuse, out-of-home care, mental health problems and unemployment. Many are mothers when they become involved in the criminal justice system and their gender and parenting related needs are often not considered. The aim of this rapid review was to thematically synthesize the existing research on the needs and experiences of mothers while in, and following release from, prison in Australia.MethodsWe conducted a rapid systematic search of electronic databases, search engines, the websites of key agencies, and contacted key agencies and researchers.ResultsTwenty-two publications from 12 studies met the inclusion criteria and were thematically synthesized in relation to the mothers, their children, family and community, and systems and services which mothers had contact with. We found that mothers in prison have a history of disadvantage which is perpetuated by the trauma of imprisonment. Release from prison is a particularly challenging time for mothers. In relation to their children, the included studies showed that the imprisonment of mothers impacts their maternal identity and role and disrupts the mother-child relationship. Specific strategies are needed to maintain the mother-child relationship, and to ensure the needs and rights of the child are met. In relation to family and community, we found that although family and social support is an important need of women in prison, such support may not be available. Moreover, the stigma associated with having been in prison is a significant barrier to transitions into the community, including finding employment and housing. In relation to systems and services, although limited services exist to support women in prison and on release, these often do not consider the parenting role. Evaluations of parenting programs in prison found them to be acceptable and beneficial to participants but barriers to access limit the number of women who can participate.ConclusionMothers have gender- and parenting-specific needs which should be considered in planning for corrective services in Australia. Any service redesign must place the woman and her children at the centre of the service.

Inside the Box: Safety, Health, and Isolation in Prison

A large social science research literature examines the effects of prisons on crime and socioeconomic inequality, but the penal institution itself is often a black box overlooked in the analysis of its effects. This paper examines prisons and their role in rehabilitative programs and as venues for violence, health and healthcare, and extreme isolation through solitary confinement. Research shows that incarcerated people are participating less today than in the 1980s in prison programs, and they face high risks of violence, disease, and isolation. Prison conditions suggest the mechanisms that impair adjustment to community life after release provide a more complete account of the costs of incarceration and indicate the performance of prisons as moral institutions that bear a responsibility for humane and decent treatment.

SARS-CoV2 vaccination roll-out in European prisons

Abstract Introduction As SARS-CoV2 mass vaccination campaigns are rolled out, there is debate about which population groups to prioritize. Prison staff and prison residents should be considered a priority. Prison staff are essential workers and absenteeism should be minimized to enable safe and decent regimes. They play a pivotal role in SARS-CoV2 transmission within prison, contributing to disease spread. Prison residents are characterized by high burden of underlying disease, including non-communicable diseases. Furthermore, it is difficult to effectively protect prison populations by means of infection prevention and control and non-pharmaceutical measures, due to the constraints of the prison system. Methods Evidence on the inclusion of prison population within national SARS-CoV2 vaccination plans, level of implementation and models of vaccine delivery in prison settings is being collected through a questionnaire developed and disseminated within the European research project “Reaching the hard-to-reach: Increasing access and vaccine uptake among prison population in Europe -RISE-Vac”. Results and discussion There are notable differences between countries across Europe regarding inclusion in and priority attributed to prison residents and staff within national vaccination plans. Several challenges have been identified for the implementation of SARS-CoV2 vaccination programs in prison. Conclusions Suboptimal healthcare delivery and information systems with poor links to community systems are a major issue to overcome to ensure accurate and timely monitoring of vaccination. Prison residents are highly heterogeneous when it comes to age, ethnicity, level of education and health literacy. Ensuring their meaningful engagement is key to high vaccine uptake. This includes appropriate information and communication strategies prior to and at the point of vaccine delivery, covering inter alia possible side effects and informed consent.

Why Race Matters for Higher Education in Prison

ABSTRACT There has been bi-partisan momentum to provide higher education opportunities for students who are impacted by the criminal legal system, but similar to the context of the contemporary crisis of higher education, the problem of racial inequity persists. The Alliance for Higher Education in Prison, a national multi-stakeholder network supporting quality higher education in prison, stated in their most recent report, “programs are ill-equipped to support faculty and staff in reflecting on how race, class, gender, ability, sexuality, and other identity or status markers might impact their interest in, or approach to, teaching in prison, as well as their experiences while doing so (Erzen et al., 2019).” In this spirit, this essay will address issues of racial inequity and injustice within higher education in prison programs—examining issues of faculty diversity, pedagogy, and barriers students impacted by the criminal legal system face in continuing their higher education upon release. In addressing these barriers, there is an opportunity to overcome racial inequity at a massive scale and set an example, both for higher education communities and society as a whole.

Substance Use and The Necessity for Harm Reduction Programs in Prisons: A Qualitative Study in Central Prison of Sanandaj, Iran

Background: For decades, harm reduction programs for addiction have been started in Iranian prisons. The programs comprise methadone maintenance treatment, antiretroviral treatment, and other harm reduction programs implemented as a triangular clinic. Despite the lack of funding to provide mental health services, particularly for substance use and harm reduction in prisons of low- and middle-income countries, Iran provides well-developed services. Objectives: The study investigated the implementation and achievements of harm reduction programs in Sanandaj prison located in the center of Kurdistan Province, west of Iran. Materials and Methods: This was a qualitative cross-sectional study. We used various information sources such as a checklist and group discussions. The participants were chosen by the purposive sample method and included prison authorities and harm reduction service providers and recipients. The data were analyzed by content analysis. The MAXQDA 12 software was used to manage the data. Results: The harm reduction programs included opioid substitution therapy, providing information and education, voluntary counseling and testing for blood-borne diseases, providing condoms, hepatitis C virus screening, and antiretroviral treatment. Following the implementation of the program, a significant decrease in violence, self-injury, illegal drug use and shared syringes, HIV-positive new comers, and no necessity for the needle and syringe program when starting methadone treatment was reported. Conclusions: Commitment to a strict ban on the entering of drugs to the prison is a reason for the use of high-risk methods of drug use and behaviors such as injection, self-injury, or violence. Sharing syringes and needles is a major cause of the transmission of HIV and hepatitis viruses among drug users. Harm reduction programs, especially methadone maintenance treatment and antiretroviral treatment, have reduced a large proportion of drug-related harms in prisons. Scaling up the programs and their extension to post-release treatment will greatly reduce the country's health costs.

Guide to Social Work Intervention for Community Re-entry of Offenders With a History of Violence Against Individuals

Objective: The re-entry of offenders to the community after their imprisonment is a sensitive and important stage and should always be considered by governmental and non-governmental organizations. The proper transition from prison to the community occurs when rehabilitation and social reintegration programs are developed and implemented based on the real needs of individuals. Social work is one of the professions that can help the judicial system with this issue. Many graduates of this profession provide social work services to prisoners and their families. Therefore, it is necessary to identify effective operational solutions in accordance with the conditions of the country and formulate a specific framework. This study aims to prepare a guideline for specialized social work intervention for community re-entry of offenders with a history of violence against individuals. Materials & Methods: In this study, a qualitative approach was used to prepare the specialized guideline. First, the initial barriers and facilitators of successful community re-entry for offenders with a history of violence against individuals were prepared using thematic analysis. Then, based on the protocols of the social work process, the initial draft was developed. Next, at a focus group discussion session with faculty members and experts, the draft was reviewed and improved. To assess its applicability, we used the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) tool. Results: Intertwined concerns, protective shields, welfare/economic security, social support, and achieving relative independence were identified as the five dimensions of successful community re-entry. The specialized social work interventions were presented after approval in four main stages: preparation for the case plan, development of the case plan, interventions and actions, and monitoring and review of interventions. The results of evaluation by AGREE tool showed an overall acceptable average of 58.7% (82.9% for scope and purpose, 88.1% for stakeholder involvement, 85.6% for rigor of development, 83% for clarity of presentation, 84.9% for applicability, and 89.8% for editorial independence). The users of this guideline are social workers and other professions related to prisons and training and security organizations, especially after-release care centers. Conclusion: Investing in rehabilitation programs for prisoners is one of the best and most cost-effective ways to prevent the reoccurrence of violence, which not only has beneficial effects on those concerned but also promotes public safety. This issue becomes important when social reintegration and rehabilitation programs are developed based on scientific approaches and perspectives. Future studies on the effectiveness of the developed guideline, considering the local conditions, can help identify the effective factors of re-entry to the community in newly released prisoners. The skills and capabilities of social workers in presenting specialized interventions and establishing professional and inter-organizational communication, supporting rules and programs, motivation, and enthusiasm of the offender to change can all contribute to the success of this guideline in achieving the defined goals.

“A reward rather than a right”: Facilitators’ perspectives on the place of music in Norwegian prison exceptionalism

Scholarship on prison music-making projects and programmes to date has largely overlooked the perspectives of prison music facilitators, who form an integral part of many prison music activities. The aim of the study, which was exploratory in nature, was to contribute to a better understanding overall of the relationship between music and imprisonment by focusing on the perspectives of prison music practitioners. Drawing from data collected in four Norwegian prisons through ethnographic research, data was analysed thematically with four key themes emerging: interpersonal communication and emotional connection; social responsibility; prison system and environment, and (in)difference and exclusion. The findings highlight the fact that the range of prison music activities offered in many Norwegian prisons affects music facilitators deeply in a number of ways, and support existing studies that find that prison music practices can contribute to creating a community of caring individuals both inside and outside prisons. Notably, the emergence of the (in)difference and exclusion theme demonstrates a more critical and nuanced view of prison music facilitators’ experiences as going beyond simplistic, romantic notions of music’s function in social transformation. Concerns raised for those who appear to be excluded or differentiated from music-making opportunities in prison – in particular foreign nationals and women – suggest that (even) in the Norwegian context, music in prisons remains a “reward” rather than a fundamental “right.” This study marks a step towards a richer and more critical understanding of prison musicking and aims to inform future research, practice, and the processes involved in the possibilities for offering music in prisons.

Well-being programmes in prisons in England and Wales: a mixed-methods study

PurposeIn the past decade, there has been growing awareness of well-being and its importance and an increase in the development of activities or programmes aimed at improving well-being. The purpose of this study is to investigate what well-being programmes were being offered to prisoners in England and Wales and what benefits and other outcomes were experienced.Design/methodology/approachThe study used a mixed-methods exploratory design in two phases. Phase 1 was a questionnaire survey of all adult prisons in England and Wales, completed by prison staff. In Phase 2, a sample of survey respondents took part in in-depth interviews.FindingsThe programmes identified in Phase 1 included physical activities, creative arts, mindfulness, horticulture, reading and animal-assisted activities. Prison staff reported a range of universally positive outcomes shared by all programmes, including enthusiasm from prisoners, enjoyment of the activities and being able to do something different from the usual prison routine. However, in Phase 2, interviewees rarely mentioned direct health and well-being benefits. The impetus for programmes was varied and there was little reference to national policy on health and well-being; this reflected the ad hoc way in which programmes are developed, with a key role being played by the Well-being Officer, where these were funded.Originality/valueThe literature on well-being programmes in prisons is limited and tends to focus on specific types of initiatives, often in a single prison. This study contributes by highlighting the range of activities across prisons and elucidating the perspectives of those involved in running such programmes.

A social ecological model (SEM) to exploring barriers of and facilitators to the implementation of opioid agonist treatment (OAT) programmes in prisons.

Opioid agonist treatment (OAT) programmes in prisons play a significant role in preventing the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Despite its proven effectiveness, both the availability and coverage of prison OAT programmes remain low. This Indonesian study explores facilitators of, and barriers to, the delivery of methadone programmes in prisons using the social ecological model (SEM). The study used a qualitative case study approach comprising two prisons with, and one prison without, methadone programmes. Purposive and snowball sampling was used to recruit study participants. In total, 57 in-depth interviews were conducted with prison governors, health-care staff, prison officers and prisoners. Data was analysed thematically. The study findings identified facilitators of and barriers to the delivery of prison OAT programmes at all three levels of the SEM as follows: intrapersonal barriers including misperceptions relating to HIV transmission, the harm reduction role of OAT programmes, methadone dependency and withdrawal symptoms; interpersonal barriers such as inflexible OAT treatment processes and the wide availability of illicit drugs in prisons and; social-structural barriers, notably the general lack of resources. The findings highlight the importance of and overlap between, organisational and inter-personal, as well as intrapersonal factors. Such an approach is particularly important in the context of the implementation and delivery of methadone programmes in low/middle income countries, where the lack of resources is so significant. Three main strategies for improvement were suggested as follows: the development of comprehensive education and training programmes for prisoners and all prison staff; the re-assessment of practices relating to the delivery of methadone, and a comprehensive review of harm reduction strategy in prisons, that should consider the role of prisoners' families to increase support for prisoner participation; the re-assessment of prison policies to support the delivery of methadone programmes in prisons. The author suggests that ongoing international support and national drug policies are vital to the continuation and sustainability of methadone programmes in prisons. This study contributes to the overall evidence base for OAT programmes in middle-income prison contexts.

PELAKSANAAN ASIMILASI NARAPIDANA DI LEMBAGA PEMASYARAKATAN KELAS II KOTABUMI

The assimilation of prisoners must meet certain conditions first which are not regulated in the Correctional Law based on article 14 paragraph (2) which reads that the provisions regarding the requirements and procedures for the implementation of the rights of prisoners as referred to in paragraph (1) shall be further regulated by regulation. The government. The problem in this research is how the assimilation of prisoners in the Class IIa Correctional Institution in Kotabumi is carried out and how is the responsibility of prisoners who receive assimilation. The approach used in this study is an empirical approach, which is an approach that is carried out by conducting direct research to collect all information related to this research, either by interviewing related parties, or by careful observation of the object of research. Based on the results of the study, it can be seen that the Implementation of Prisoners' Assimilation at the Class IIa Penitentiary in Kotabumi, the implementation of an assimilation program for prisoners is needed, looking at Article 7 of the Universal. The implementation of the assimilation program at the Class II a Kotabumi Penitentiary has been running according to applicable procedures and is legal according to law, and from several assimilation theories and the responsibility of prisoners who receive assimilation. According to Article 1 point 4 of the Correctional Law, the role of the Correctional Institution is responsible for all existing prisoner assimilation programs, both in terms of supervision, data collection, and social sanctions carried out by assimilation prisoners who act again within the community itself. The author's suggestion is to carry out assimilation with third parties, this is more effectively done than only in the prison environment. Prisoners who assimilate with third parties will meet more with the community, in contrast to assimilation in the prison environment which only meets visitors and the surrounding community. Assimilation with third parties can be done in Islamic boarding schools, to deepen religious knowledge.

Critical Feminist Service-Learning: A Physical Activity Program in a Woman's Prison.

In recent decades, increasing emphasis has been placed on the role of universities in ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education. Higher education strategies such as critical feminist service-learning (CFSL) can help achieve true university-community engagement to achieve social good while allowing students to develop academic competencies, values, and social responsibility. This study analyzes the impact of a university physical activity–based CFSL project implemented at a woman’s prison. The study combined quantitative and qualitative research methods. Eighty-one students (24 women and 57 men) participated in the project over the 3 years in which it was run (2017–2018, 2018–2019, and 2019-2020). Aspects related to the four principles of CFSL were analyzed using data collected from questionnaires and reflective learning journals completed by the students and a semi-structured interview with the prison sports instructor. Our findings show that participating in the project brought about significant changes in students’ beliefs and preconceptions about prisons, and helped them to develop their critical awareness. They also show that the project strengthened the collaborative relationship between the establishments and agents involved. In conclusion, CFSL is a powerful higher education strategy that can be used to show future educators and practitioners how sport and physical activity can drive social justice and contribute to the achievement of the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Decolonising pedagogies in prison performance programmes: making Shakespeare secondary

ABSTRACT Shakespeare’s elite cultural status bolsters the sense of achievement and empowerment experienced by participants in prison performance programmes; and yet, such engagements paradoxically risk further marginalising participants by reinforcing a colonial mentality in which Shakespeare represents an offering from a morally superior white culture. Taking the Detroit Public Theatre’s Shakespeare in Prison (SIP) programme for women as my central case study, I apply a decolonising lens in order to identify pedagogies and practices that help SIP to prioritise participant knowledge and agency, prioritise an ethics of care over high production standards, and prioritise relationality over the individualist rhetoric of rehabilitation.

DYNAMICS OF DERADICALIZATION: KNOWING THE COMPROMISE OF TWO STATE INSTITUTIONS

The failure of the de-radicalization program in prisons is evidenced by the high recidivation of terrorism convicts who have launched their actions again. This failure was due to the lack of coordination between stakeholders, namely the Director-General of Social Affairs (Dirjenpas) and the BNPT. Government Science sees that there have been sectoral egos between institutions. This study aims to examine the implementation of deradicalization in prisons and to skin sectoral egos in its implementation. This research methodology uses qualitative descriptive, namely the translation through words, by conducting interviews from September to October 2020. The results show that there is a reluctance of the Director-General of Social Affairs to use the concept of deradicalization and prefers to use the concept of guidance owned by the Director-General of Social Affairs itself. This reluctance was based on the negative stigma of using deradicalization and the feeling that BNPT had never coordinated to coordinate deradicalization. The sectoral ego is the result of not being carefully defined by radicalism and terrorism. Each state institution and the general public have their own definitions, resulting in differences in concept resulting in differences in program design and implementation.

A systematic review of qualitative evidence on barriers to and facilitators of the implementation of opioid agonist treatment (OAT) programmes in PRISONS

A systematic review of qualitative evidence on barriers to and facilitators of the implementation of opioid agonist treatment (OAT) programmes in PRISONS

Multiple burdens of stigma for prisoners participating in opioid antagonist treatment (OAT) programmes in Indonesian prisons: a qualitative study

Multiple burdens of stigma for prisoners participating in opioid antagonist treatment (OAT) programmes in Indonesian prisons: a qualitative study

The Gray Pains of Imprisonment: Examining the Perceptions of Confinement among a Sample of Sexagenarians and Septuagenarians.

While the overall United States prison population has decreased over the last 10 years, the number of sentenced individuals above the age of 50 nearly doubled during the same period. The focus of this study, the pains of imprisonment experienced by the aging, is an under-researched area in the prison literature. Results from a sample of 134 male participants of True Grit, a structured living program for older prisoners, indicate strong agreement among sexagenarians, among septuagenarians, and between them. Previous studies of the pains of imprisonment found similar evaluations of the most and least difficult aspects of incarceration. While different instruments were used, collectively these studies suggest some commonality in the greatest hardships and least problematic aspects of incarceration. Policy implications derived from the present research are considered.

Methadone and buprenorphine treatment in United States jails and prisons: lessons from early adopters.

To identify implementation barriers and facilitators to the adoption and implementation of programs that provide opioid agonist treatments (OAT) with methadone and buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder in jails and prisons in the United States. Qualitative analysis: semi-structured interviews were conducted and thematic analyses of transcripts and notes were performed using a hybrid inductive/deductive coding approach. Jails and prisons in the United States. From August 2019 to January 2020, we conducted 20 key informant interviews with 35 individuals representing 19 carceral systems that both initiate and maintain OAT. Interviews covered four domains: (1) program adoption; (2) policy influence on implementation; (3) program structure; and (4) program outcomes. Stigma among staff, particularly medical staff, challenged program adoption, but reduced over time as staff were exposed to the program. Regulations on OAT dispensation, such as licensing requirements and prescribing limits, were key challenges to program implementation and shaped program structure. Dispensing medication required significant staff, time and space. Facilities were further challenged to overcome stigma and concerns about diversion, as OAT medication is often treated as contraband in carceral settings. Some systems deviated from evidence-based treatment by limiting OAT dosage to low levels, requiring counseling for participation and requiring detoxification before medication initiation. Despite these challenges, early adopters felt strongly that other jails and prisons in the United States should provide OAT and that legislation and litigation may soon force OAT expansion in these carceral settings. Despite identifying regulatory and logistical challenges, early adopters of opioid agonist treatment (OAT) programs in US jails and prisons demonstrate that OAT programs can successfully be implemented in carceral settings with tailoring to the specific context.

Spatial Utilization for the Skills Development Program in Yogyakarta Class IIB Correctional Facility for Women

A correctional facility has been considered critical not only in accommodating prisoners but also facilitating vocational training that prepares the prisoners to reintegrate in society and thus would not recommit crimes. However, in reality the building of many correctional facilities are not prepared for this function. This is apparent in the correctional facility for women in Yogyakarta. The facility does not have its official building and is located in the men’s correctional facility. Those conditions impact the spatial limitations, including space to conduct the skills development program. This study aims to examine the spatial utilization for the skills development program in Yogyakarta prison for women by analyzing the relationship between the physical settings and the occurring activities there. By conducting place-centered mapping, questionnaire survey, and interview for data collection, this study showed that prisoners tend to seek to carry the vocational work in comfortable areas provided with better air condition that are not prepared for the training. This finding raises a concern about how a correctional facility should have adequate space that encourages social solidarity and provides enough spatial autonomy for the skills development program.

Editorial Introduction: Exploring policy diffusion, collaborative governance, and policy conflict

Editorial Introduction: Exploring policy diffusion, collaborative governance, and policy conflict

A Beastly Bargain: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Prison-Based Dog-Training Programs in Florida

Dog-training programs have become a popular form of alternative prison programming. One of the reported benefits of these programs is their low cost to the criminal justice system. Very little research has been conducted on their effects on offenders, and, to date, no cost-benefit analyses have been reported. This article presents a cost-benefit analysis using program cost and updated recidivism results from an evaluation of dog-training programs. The analyses projected that, for every criminal justice system dollar spent on the dog-training programs, between $2,877 and $5,353 were saved. These findings suggest that dog-training programs could be cost-beneficial.