Effects of imprisonment Flashcards
What is the deprivation theory?
Prison is stigmatising and degrading
Thus prison violence is a result of the prison environment
What is the importation theory?
Prison life is due to prisoner’s personal experiences and socialisation prior to prison
Therefore values about violent behaviour are brought into the prison from outside
Who are vulnerable to suicide rates in prison?
Women kill themselves more than men, women may have attempted suicide or had ideations of it prior to imprisonment, the prison is the trigger
Those living in multi occupied cells
Younger
From a racial minority
New to prisons
What are self-inflicted deaths?
Term used in prisons
Include suicides
Offender has caused their own death regardless of intent, e.g. an accidental death because of an individual’s actions
What factors may influence someone to committing suicide in prison?
Aversive events e.g. break ups, death of family members
Drug withdrawal symptoms
Depression
Worries over their sentence (on remand)
Considered painless and speedy deaths
Methods available, for example needles are hard to find and use in prisons, therefore bedding that can be torn into strips may be an accessible alternative
Chose to do it inside their cell
What is restorative justice?
Overseen by a professional
Victim gets closure
Offender sees the harm they caused
Encourages the offender to take responsibility
Reconciliation
What was the UK Prison System like between 16th to 17th century?
Prisons used to be a space where people were held awaiting their punishment
Very poor conditions- disease, poor hygiene and malnutrition
Men, women, children were all imprisoned together
What was the UK Prison System like in the 18th century?
Public were outraged that capital punishment was given to minor crimes like theft
Bloody code era
Prisons adapted, offenders transported to British colonies for hard labour
John Howard was the first person to inspect prisons and insisted on reforms such as paid staff, outside inspection, proper diet, men/women separate
What was the UK Prison System like in the 19th century?
Imprisonment had replaced capital punishment for more serious offences
Hard labour was abolished as many died, prison labour should be productive instead
Built more prisons
Separated young people in prisons
1933- The first open prison, lower risk individuals, work during day, live in prison with curfews
What is the UN Standard for the Treatment of Prisons?
No discrimination for race, sex, language, religion, political opinions, social status
Respect prisoner’s religious beliefs
Includes medical services, contact with outside world, places to worship, clothing, bedding and food
How are crime rates in the Uk Prison Service flunctuating?
Prison populations are increasing
Low imprisonment during wartime as we needed people to fight
2011 riots where police are arresting more people
What types of people are likely to end up in prisons?
Adult men make up the majority of prison populations
Homeless
Unemployment
Ran away from home as a child
Excluded from school
Mental health disorders
What happens in prison?
At first a prison sentence includes induction and assessment
Then the offender gets involved in rehabilitation programmes like education and work
At the end of their sentence, offenders focus on resettlement
What are recidivism rates like in the UK?
recidivism: reoffending
In the UK it’s 52%
More severe an offence= less likely to reoffend
How does overcrowding impact prisons?
Less than 2% available space in prisons
Pentonville (London Prison) is designed for 520 people in single cells, now they’re at full capacity and have 2 people per cell
Cellmates are common victims of homicides
Produces psychological stress
Increases reoffending
