Prisons and Prison Systems: Practices, Types and Challenges

159 Pages·2013·5.62 MB·English

by  Johan Fuhrmann, Stefan Baier

LAW, CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT

P P S
RISONS AND RISON YSTEMS

P , T C
RACTICES YPES AND HALLENGES

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LAW, CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT

P P S
RISONS AND RISON YSTEMS

P , T C
RACTICES YPES AND HALLENGES

JOHAN FUHRMANN
AND
STEFAN BAIER
EDITORS

New York
Copyright © 2013 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

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CONTENTS

Preface vii
Chapter 1 Exploring Offence Paralleling Behaviours
in Incarcerated Offenders 1
Geraldine Akerman and Anthony R. Beech
Chapter 2 The Chinese Prison System for Female Offenders:
A Case Study 25
Liu Liu and Wing Hong Chui
Chapter 3 Social Control, Moral Panics and Prison: Social Harms
Produced by the Myth of the ‘New’ Hyper-Violent Girl 43
Rachael E. Collins
Chapter 4 Advancing the Study of Solitary Confinement 57
Ryan M. Labrecque and Paula Smith
Chapter 5 Conducting Treatment in the Prison System:
Rehabilitation Research 71
Brandy L. Blasko and Elizabeth L. Jeglic
Chapter 6 Exploratory Study on Child Care in Prisons 85
Claudia Stella and Vânia C. Sequeira
Chapter 7 Violence Prevention Booster Program:
Effects on Knowledge, Attitude, and Recidivism 97
Michael E. Antonio
Chapter 8 The Challenges of Reentry from Prison to Society 111
Lindsay A. Phillips and W. Michelle Spencer
Chapter 9 A Theoretical Assessment of The Impact of Unsafe Injecting
Practices and Behavioral Change on the Dynamics of HCV
and HIV within Correctional Institutions 123
S. Mushayabasa, C. P. Bhunu and A. G. R. Stewart
Index 139

PREFACE

In this book, the authors’ present current research in the study of the practices, types and
challenges in prisons and prison systems. Topics discussed include the Chinese prison system
for female offenders; a study of solitary confinement; an exploratory study on child care in
prisons; the challenges of re-entry from prison to society; offence paralleling behaviours in
incarcerated offenders; women offenders and the criminal justice system; conducting
treatment in the prison system and rehabilitation research; violence prevention booster
programs and the effects on knowledge; attitude and recidivism; and an assessment of HCV
and HIV within correctional institutions.
Chapter 1 – This chapter aims to develop an understanding of what constitutes Offence
Paralleling Behaviour in a custodial setting, how it relates to current levels of sexual interest
and how it may predict risk of future offending. Two groups of men, one group convicted of
sexual offences and one not, all located in a prison-based therapeutic community, volunteered
to participate in research to help validate a newly developed psychometric measure of current
sexual interest. Potential Offence Paralleling Behaviours (OPBs) were considered, with the
intention of being able to assess seriousness of such behaviours based on empirically
developed risk factors. Examples of such were sought from file information, self-report and
staff observations and the Sexual Offence Paralleling Behaviour Checklist, SOPBC
developed. It was predicted that that those who had exhibited OPB would score higher on the
newly developed Current Sexual Interest Measure. Five cases in each group were explored in
more detail in order to examine the relationship between self-reported and exhibited
behaviour. In relation to these case studies, preliminary findings indicated that the men are
self-reporting their sexual interests on the Current Sexual Interests Measure in a way that is
largely consistent with their observed OPBbehavior and as assessed on the SOPBC. It is
suggested that it is possible to identify the behaviours highlighted as predictive of risk in the
custodial setting, and so more systematic case management plans can be developed.
Chapter 2 – The aim of this chapter is to present an overview of the prison system and
prison work in China. The first section discusses the historical development and the key
characteristics and features of the prison system in China. The second section examines the
contemporary correctional and rehabilitation practices and policies of a women’s prison.
Using this women’s prison as a case study, the chapter discusses issues relating to prisoner
management systems and correctional programs and the use of a prison scoring system for
punishment and reward (jifeng kaohe zhidu). The final section of the chapter highlights some
viii Johan Fuhrmann and Stefan Baier
of the challenges of managing and rehabilitating prisoners and preparing them for
reintegration into the community.
Chapter 3 – Women are increasingly in contact with the criminal justice system. For
instance, the growth rate of women in prison in both the US and Canada has been almost
double that of men, despite the fact that national databases such as Uniform Crime Reports
shows no increase in offense rates. This disparity, it has been argued, may trace its roots to
erroneous media portrayals of violent women and subsequent public opinion that women are
increasingly getting away with violent crime. One reason for this disparity can be found in
analyzing how negative and sensationalist coverage can affect how crime and offenders are
publically constructed. Female offenders have a distinct disadvantage in media portrayals as
coverage has frequently disseminated portrayals of masculinised hyperviolent girls that are
framed around moral panics rather than reality. Much of the research conducted in this area
consistently conclude that the false perception that women are increasingly moving into the
world of male dominated violence is largely a result of the shifting nature of gendered social
boundaries. Moreover, research shows that these media portrayals likely have profound
impact public opinions on crime and punishment. Thus, shifting the discourse of violence
among women may translate into profound gender differences in many aspects of a violent
woman’s experience with the criminal justice system from conviction to sentencing, as well
as their prospects upon release.
Chapter 4 – Solitary confinement has been used as a means of controlling inmates since
the inception of the first prison. Correctional agencies use solitary confinement for two
purposes: safety and punishment. Unfortunately, neither purpose has been explored
extensively in the research to test the underlying theory of solitary confinement despite the
potential benefit such information could have on the field. Instead, most experimental studies
have examined whether or not solitary confinement is used appropriately or produces any
adverse effects. This review summarizes what is currently known about solitary confinement
and advocates for shifting the focus of future research to address the question of whether or
not the practice is achieving its intended theoretical goal – increased safety and security.
Chapter 5 – Beginning with an overview of the history of rehabilitation in prisons, this
chapter will present information on the rise, fall, and then rise again of treatment programs
within prisons. A description of primary goals of correctional systems will also be discussed.
The authors’ then will move to a providing an overview of the kinds of treatment or services
commonly provided in prisons and which approaches to treatment work best, including
empirical evidence. Finally, the chapter outlines some of the major barriers to the
implementation of prison based treatment programs. Challenges associated with conducting
treatment in prisons, including characteristics about inmates, clinicians, and the treatment
setting, are outlined.
Chapter 6 – The issue of allowing children to be sheltered with their mothers in prison is
very controversial and complex due to the punitive nature of correctional institutions, the
often violent situations and the highly managed environments. Such environmental conditions
are not the most appropriate for healthy child development. The goal of this paper is to report
bibliographic research about the custody of children of women prisoners in several countries.
Keywords searches were carried out in the main Brazilian databases (Scielo, Bireme, Capes,
BVS-Psi) and in international databases (Medline, PsycINFO, Eric). The following keywords
were used: nursery, reception, detention, imprisoned, prisoner, prison, detention, detainee,
women, maternity, custody, education, rehabilitation, children, children and imprisonment. In