Prison Service Research Articles

Institutional thoughtlessness and the needs of older probation clients

This article explores the increase in the number of older people on probation caseloads. ‘Older’ clients are defined as those aged 50 and over, in line with the use of this definition by Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service. Drawing upon a Freedom of Information request submitted to the Ministry of Justice, the data show increases in the age of probation clients across community orders, suspended sentences, and supervision on licence. One in five residents in Approved Premises are over 50. Despite the increase, there is a dearth of research relating to the needs of older people on probation and how well probation services and staff are equipped to meet their needs. Consequently, this article utilises research relating to older prisoners, drawing inferences to probation experiences. This prompts the question of whether probation is ‘institutionally thoughtless’, a term coined relating to the daily experiences of older prisoners. This article depicts findings from qualitative interviews with older prisoners in prison for the first time. The findings highlight ambivalence towards completing accredited programmes, which may be applicable to probation settings. This article concludes that action to tackle discrimination requires a commitment to justice, self-awareness, and knowledge via policy and practice.

Learning disability screening: impact on prison programmes

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine staff views’ of the usefulness of the Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) screening tools for learning disability and/or learning challenges (LDC) on offending behaviour programme selection and programme participant’s learning experiences.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 11 treatment managers (TMs) and 10 programme graduates across 4 prison sites, from a range of HMPPS accredited programmes were interviewed. The interviews were transcribed, analysed and interpreted using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) method of thematic analysis.FindingsOverall, TMs found the screening tools useful in aiding programme allocation decisions, particularly, in terms of the triangulated approach and were, in general, using them in line with the guidance. A number of key factors influenced programme allocation decisions, including participant factors, information gathered from a number of sources and from a range of staff and in collaboration with the individual. The importance of being responsive to the needs of the individual was highlighted. Group participants generally felt they were on the right programme according to their needs and found the programmes responsive. Suggestions for further research and improving programme selection are made.Research limitations/implicationsData were collected from four prisons, each providing a number of different accredited programmes. Caution is, therefore, needed when generalising the findings.Originality/valueThis research contributes to ensuring that those with LDC have equality of opportunity in reducing their risk of reoffending through accessing HMPPS accredited offending behaviour programmes most responsive to their learning needs. It also contributes to the growing evidence base about the effective use of LDC screening tools in forensic settings.

Ocena i perspektywy rozwoju systemu terapeutycznego wykonywania kary pozbawienia wolności

This publication focuses on the problems of imprisonment relating to those sen-tenced with mental disorders, addicted to drugs or other means of intoxication, as well as the physically handicapped. The proposals in this work are based not only on the study of specialized literature and an analysis of legislative measures, but also on pilot studies in therapeutic wards all over Poland. In the conclusions the proposals de lege lata and de lege ferenda have been included, with reference to this important feature of prison services.

Krajowy Mechanizm Prewencji Tortur w oczach funkcjonariuszy Służby Więziennej

The purpose of this study is to present the results of research conducted among officers and employees of the Prison Service regarding the knowledge and opinions of representatives of this professional group on the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture (hereinafter also KMPT, Mechanism).

Can Yoga Overcome Criminality? The Impact of Yoga on Recidivism in Israeli Prisons.

In recent years, yoga practices have been integrated into formal prison rehabilitation programs of the Israel Prison Service (IPS), as part of the informal education system, giving rise to innovative criminological theories such as positive criminology that emphasize the development of offenders' strengths by facilitating rehabilitation and reintegration processes. The purpose of the present study was to examine the correlation between yoga practice and recidivism among released prisoners who participated in yoga programs during their incarceration in comparison with a matched control group of those who did not participate in yoga programs over a follow-up period of 5 years. To examine the effectiveness of the program, propensity score matching was used to compile the comparison group from among all convicted prisoners who were released from the Israeli prisons. Study results indicate that yoga may affect recidivism, supported by a finding of lower recidivism rates among released prisoners who had practiced yoga during their incarceration, compared with a matched control group. However, further study is needed including randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In light of these positive results, we recommend policy-makers consider expanding alternative practices such as yoga into prisons, in recognition of their contribution to the rehabilitation process through the development of personal and social strengths.

Examining Vocational Rehabilitation Services Provided to Incarcerated Persons With Disabilities

In the U.S. prison system, incarcerated persons with a disability represent a largely marginalized population with limited or inadequate provision of services in prison. In general, once released, ex-offenders face a number of challenges when they reenter society ranging from access to housing, employment, health care, and substance use services. These challenges are generally exacerbated for incarcerated persons with a disability. Overall, there is a dearth of research on rates of vocational services utilization among incarcerated persons with a disability. Using data from the Rehabilitation Services Administration for 30,170 inmates, the results indicate that inmates with cognitive and physical disabilities have the lowest utilization of vocational services overall and across all types of services (educational, job, disability, and other). Furthermore, vocational service utilization varies based on the nature of the disability suggesting distinct programming needs for each group. Implications for access to vocational rehabilitation services and current reentry programming for incarcerated persons with a disability are discussed.

Can Yoga Overcome Criminality? The Impact of Yoga on Recidivism in Israeli Prisons.

In recent years, yoga practices have been integrated into informal education programs of the Israel Prison Service (IPS), given rise to innovative criminological theories such as positive criminology that emphasize the development of offenders' strengths by facilitating rehabilitation and reintegration processes. The purpose of the present study was to examine the correlation between yoga practice and recidivism among released prisoners who participated in yoga programs during their incarceration in comparison with a matched control group of those who did not participate in yoga programs over a follow-up period of 5 years. To examine the effectiveness of the program, propensity-score matching was used to compile the comparison group from among all convicted prisoners who were released from the Israeli prisons. Study results indicate that yoga may impact recidivism, supported by a finding of lower recidivism rates among released prisoners who had practiced yoga during their incarceration, compared with the matched control group. However, further study is needed including randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In light of these positive results, we recommend policy makers consider introducing alternative practices such as yoga in prisons, in recognition of its contribution to the rehabilitation process through the development of personal and social strengths.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of offending versus suicide in community (non-psychiatric and non-prison) samples

This study sought to meta-analytically establish whether community offenders, without mental illnesses, were more likely to commit suicide compared with community and general population comparison groups. Fifteen studies met our inclusion criteria (N = 602,347) and highlight that community offenders are significantly more likely to commit suicide compared with non-offenders (OR = 4.54) at any age. Ex-prisoners had a high likelihood of suicide (OR = 4.18), but not as high as offenders who had not been incarcerated (OR = 7.62). Community offenders therefore form a vulnerable group who require targeted intervention to reduce the incidence of suicide across the lifespan. The antisocial lifestyles that offenders lead, when out of secure environments, pose a significant risk to health and should be viewed as a future public health challenge. A shared responsibility lies with the prison, probation, health and social services to develop more collaborative practices in providing services for this high-risk group.

Justice on the inside: teaching human rights and social justice to the recruit prison officers of the Irish prison service by developing professional integrity

ABSTRACT This article will outline the planning, processes, challenges and successes of a unique teaching and training program for over 1000 recruits to the Irish Prison Service (IPS), which initially took place in the Republic of Ireland between 2008 and 2013. The program was a transformative one, with a pedagogy aimed at developing Recruit Prison Officers’ (RPOs) understanding of prisoner’s rights within a justice framework. In fact, Human Rights was one of the subjects taught to officers on the program. The program is known as the Higher Certificate in Custodial Care (HCCC). This program combined the expertise of academics from that nation’s Universities and the Irish Institute of Technology sector with the traditional training approaches of the Chief Officers of the IPS. This combination of academic and practical teaching and training and mentoring was intended to broaden the scope of knowledge and competency and professional integrity of recruits to Ireland’s national prison service. The article will chart the development and implementation of this innovative educational and training program, from planning to implementation. Abbreviations IPS: Irish Prison Service; Cos: Chief Officers; ACOs: Assistant Chief Officers; RPOs: Recruit Prison Officers; IT: Institute of Technology

APPLICATION OF RESEARCH METHODS FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRIMINAL OFFENSES IN CRIMINAL-EXECUTIVE INSTITUTIONS

The article analyzes scientific approaches to the definition of research methods for the prevention of criminal offenses in criminal-executive institutions. Methods of knowledge are important for the chosen research methodology, and they are means of revealing, deploying and systematizing the content of the subject of research on the prevention of criminal offenses in criminal-executive institutions. It has been established that recently scientists in their research have not only begun to create their own methodological tools, but have subjected it to scientific analysis, which positively affects the final result of the study. However, in such cases, young scientists often reduce it to a traditional list of general scientific methods of cognition, since they are universal and are used in any cognitive process.
 It is determined that the necessary condition for the application of the historical and legal method is the observance of the principle of unity of historical and logical, which consists in the logic of the study of the prevention of criminal offenses in criminal-executive institutions; discloses the historical recurrence of its phenomena and processes, their general principles of development, regardless of the specific forms in which they are expressed. It was noted that when applying the comparative legal method in the study of the prevention of criminal offenses in criminal-executive institutions, the goal should not be to fully implement foreign experience, since such borrowing is possible only considering the specifics of the functioning of the State criminal-executive service of Ukraine.
 The most common sociological methods for knowing and assessing the level of criminal offenses committed in criminal-executive institutions are the method of interviewing convicts and staff and the method of expert assessments. These methods are the most universal for identifying the causes and conditions of criminal offences in criminal-executive institutions. It has been established that the choice of a research method depends on many factors, but its basis is mandatory methods: dialectical; comparative legal, historical; historical and legal, sociological and dogmatic. To a lesser extent, scientists use methods such as: the method of structural-system analysis; formal legal; statistical; formal-logical; a systemic-structural and systematic method. The methods and tools of scientific analysis of criminal offences committed in criminal-executive institutions by both convicts and staff allow the State Prison Service to develop comprehensive scientifically based measures to prevent them.

THE EXPIRATION OF THE SERVICE RELATIONSHIP OF AN OFFICER OF THE PRISON SERVICE IN THE POLISH LEGAL SYSTEM

This article’s purpose is to present the issue of the expiration of the service relationship of a Prison Service’s officer by the power of law. In the given paper, the author analyzes the prerequisites for the expiration of a service relationship

Examining the role of depression in the Filipino elderly’s food preferences in prison setting: data from conjoint analysis and SEM

PurposePrevious studies suggest that the care for elderly prisoners is a growing problem. The emerging phenomenon such as the correctional ageing crisis is an urgent concern that needs to be collectively and holistically addressed from a multi-sectoral perspective. In a developing country, like the Philippines, where prison congestion is alarming, the need for more empirical investigations that probe into the prison life and services is warranted to better inform penal policy and practice that would improve health outcomes among incarcerated individuals. The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which depression among Filipino elderly prisoners shape their food choices.Design/methodology/approachA survey of 160 Filipino elderly prisoners of age 60 and above from October to November 2018 was conducted using a three-part research instrument, which consists of a personal and nutrition-related checklist, 15-point geriatric depression scale and a set of cards that were ranked and sorted through the balanced incomplete block design.FindingsResults of the survey were subjected to conjoint analysis and structural equation modeling using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 24. Interestingly, taste was the most considered attribute (30.765%) while portion size (9.759%) is the least considered by the Filipino elderly prisoners. Notably, depression has a significant positive effect on their food preferences in all attributes except portion size.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was limited to two prison settings in the Philippines. Considering the results from the conjoint analysis, strategies can be developed in designing an individualized meal plan suitable for the needs of each elderly prisoner. Also, sizeable government appropriations should be in place to ensure the nutritional quality of food served to aging Filipino prisoners.Practical implicationsProvisions for a pool of nutritionists working hand in hand with other health members would guarantee a prison system that promotes the overall well-being of each prisoner. Further, this study can contribute valuable inputs in the menu cycle practice of prisons in the country. There may be a need to prioritize the nutritional aspect of these vulnerable and deprived groups so as to promote a better quality of life among elderly prisoners. Also, other forms of psychosocial, physical and spiritual health activities extended to elderly prisoners may prevent depressive symptoms.Originality/valueConjoint analysis is remarkably gaining prominence in not only the health-care setting (Phillips et al., 2002; Ryan and Farrar, 2000) but also the field of nutrition. It holds a number of unique and practical promises to prison settings.

Information behaviour of prison inmates in Malawi

The study examined the information behaviour of Mzimba prison inmates focusing on the research themes which are information needs, sources of information, and the barriers to seeking and using information of Mzimba prison inmates. A qualitative approach was used coupled with a case study design. Data were collected through focus group discussions and interviews from 12 inmates and two prison teaching staff respectively. The study found that health information, education information and spiritual information are the major information needs of Mzimba prison inmates. The study also found that the majority of respondents agreed that the six popular sources of information are their friends, teachers, radio, television, books and newspapers. However, the study concludes that Mzimba prison (library) fails to fulfil its role as a source of information and in meeting the information needs of inmates due to challenges of lack of information resources, limited time available for inmates to search for information, poor services and lack of funding for the school and library. The study recommends that the Malawi Prison Service should engage some stakeholders such as the Malawi National Library Services, National Initiative for Civic Education and Mzuzu University Library and Learning Resources Centre to support prison libraries with the provision of information resources to meet the information needs of inmates. The study further recommends that the Malawi Prison Service Command should lobby for financial support in order to hire qualified and capable librarians and teachers to manage prison libraries and schools.

Postrzeganie i respektowanie godności więźniów przez funkcjonariuszy Służby Więziennej

Postrzeganie i respektowanie godności więźniów przez funkcjonariuszy Służby Więziennej

Inmate-on-Inmate Prison Violence in Chile: The Importance of the Institutional Context and Proper Supervision.

In this article, using a quantitative approach, we analyze interpersonal, inmate-on-inmate physical violence in Chilean prisons, using administrative records on collective violence, provided by the Prison Service for the period 2014 to 2017. Violence behind bars is problematic as it threatens inmates' fundamental rights such as personal safety but also because it undermines efforts to maintain an environment prone to inmates' social reintegration. Our data showed a sharp increase in the number of collective fights, from 808 in 2014 to more than 4,000 in 2017. In terms of the predictors, being in a private prisons as well as a greater ratio of inmates to guards were associated with increased collective fights for each of the 4 years we examined. Two additional predictors were statistically significant, yet only for 2017: A higher average criminal involvement score and a smaller ratio between inmates/staff were both associated with increased violence. Despite the fact that prison violence has not yet reached the scale or level of brutality that can be seen in other parts of the region (i.e., Brazil), there are signs of concern that authorities should take into account, particularly the rapid increase in collective fights in just a 4-year period and the recent social turmoil that has taken place in Chile, whose impact cannot be seen yet from these data. In terms of recommendations, we suggest that authorities should prioritize efforts in four areas: (a) to gather better data on prison violence, including some reliable data on importation variables (age, criminal history, and nationality); (b) to provide prison guards with tools to anticipate and mediate conflicts; (c) to revise and possibly modify the way prisoners are transferred to different facilities, and (d) in sum, to promote prison environments that can be more legitimate and supportive to inmates' reintegration.

Reforming prison mental health services in Ukraine

The Ukrainian prison service is going through a process of reform. One of the areas that is in urgent need of intervention is prison mental health. In collaboration with the Ministry of Justice a team of international experts assessed the current situation with regard to penitentiary psychiatry and came to a set of recommendations. This article reflects the outcome of the assessment visit and the recommendations made to the ministry.

Domestic Violence – Can We Combat the Crime of Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is put together by patterns of behaviors used in a desperate attempt to gain and maintain power and control over another human being within the context of a relationship, mostly a love and- or intimate relationship. From this perspective domestic violence does not discriminate, it can happen to anyone. Domestic violence is a huge global problem and affect people from all levels of society, socioeconomic, cultural, educational, emotional etc. Domestic violence is exercised both physically, sexually, materially, psychologically, latent and as counter abuse. Societal institutions like CPS (Child Protective Services) and prison represents to certain degree an unclearness due to the fact that they both exercise the implementation of sanctions, help and therapy. CPS and prisons strip people from their autonomy, the right to self-determination, work and children (indirectly, of course), they cooperate with district attorneys, prosecutors, prison and secret services – creating ambiguous roles who are difficult to handle. In this article I will attempt to describe what abuse is, its nature, how to recognize domestic violence and how we can meet people that experience domestic abuse. How can we help people that have been subjected to domestic violence from a collaborative approach? There are many interpretations on the subject of domestic violence, and I will by no means postulate that my version is an exhaustive one, it’s just one way at looking at the subject hoping that it will contribute to a greater awareness on the topic, and contribute to a more extensive development of skills enabling us to combat the crime of domestic violence, successfully.

Using telemedicine to improve access, cost and quality of secondary care for people in prison in England: a hybrid type 2 implementation effectiveness study

IntroductionPeople in prison tend to experience poorer health, access to healthcare services and health outcomes than the general population. Use of video consultations (telemedicine) has been proven effective at improving...

Solitary confinement placement and post-release mortality risk among formerly incarcerated individuals: a population-based study

With more than 10 million people incarcerated worldwide, some of whom will have experienced solitary confinement, a better understanding of health and mortality after release is needed. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between placement in solitary confinement and mortality in the 5 years following release among formerly incarcerated individuals. In this population-based study we used data from Danish administrative registers and administrative dataset from the Danish Prison and Probation Service. We linked information on all Danish individuals who had been incarcerated for more than 7 days during 2006-11, with information on mortality for the 60 months following release. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate the association between being placed in solitary confinement and mortality (death and cause of death) among formerly incarcerated Danish individuals, controlling for several possible confounders (prison security level, release year, sentence length, reason for conviction, age at admission, sex, ethnic minority background, and education level) and using a reference group of incarcerated Danish individuals who had been sanctioned for in-prison infractions but not placed in solitary confinement in some models. Our study included 13 776 individuals, which translated to 812 374 person-months of exposure to the risk of mortality up to Dec 31, 2016. Formerly incarcerated Danish individuals who spent time in solitary confinement had higher overall mortality 5 years after release (4·5%) than did those who had not spent time in solitary confinement (2·8%; p<0·0001). After adjusting for possible confounders, our results suggested an association between solitary confinement and elevated mortality due to non-natural causes (hazard ratio 2·342, 95% CI 1·527-3·592). We did not identify a significant association with natural causes. The results from these analyses indicate that solitary confinement placement might be a key moderator of the association between a history of incarceration and post-release outcomes. Our findings suggest that incarcerated individuals ever placed in solitary confinement are a vulnerable population in need of interventions. ROCKWOOL Foundation.

Osadzeni z niepełnosprawnością fizyczną — w kierunku diagnozy potrzeb

Prisoners with physical disabilities — towards the diagnosis of needsAmong the prison population in Poland there are also people with disabilities. The text will focus on physical disability. Convicts with physical disabilities constitute a group that, in penitentiary reality, is faced with many difficulties. Specialised interactions should be directed towards them. Prison Service officers try to minimise factors that may adversely affect the functioning of people with physical disabilities in prisons and pre-trial detention centres. The purpose of this article is to draw attention to prisoners with a physical disability and the specificity of their needs in penitentiary units.