Transaction Search Form: please type in any of the fields below.
Date: April 30, 2024 Tue
Time: 1:26 am
Time: 1:26 am
Results for male prisoners
5 results foundAuthor: Earle, Rod Title: Men in Prison: Con-viviality, Race and Culture Summary: The body of work I present for a PhD by Publication is comprised of twelve carefully chosen papers. Below, in Part 1, I summarise each paper's development and content seeking to show how they combine to form a coherent narrative that offers a substantial and original contribution to criminological knowledge. Part 2 comprises the published papers in the order they are listed in the Table of Contents above. In Part 3 I briefly conclude and reflect on the field of knowledge to which these papers are a contribution, namely criminology and studies of prison with an emphasis on gender, ethnicity and reflexivity in the research process. Details: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, UK: Open University, 2014. 106p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed February 26, 2015 at: http://oro.open.ac.uk/40285/3/PhD%20by%20Publication%20Men%20in%20Prison.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://oro.open.ac.uk/40285/3/PhD%20by%20Publication%20Men%20in%20Prison.pdf Shelf Number: 134673 Keywords: Male Inmates (U.I.)Male PrisonersPrison Culture |
Author: Cooper, Maxine Title: The rehabilitation of male detainees at the Alexander Maconochie Centre Summary: The Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) provides the ACT with its own prison. It was to be the first human rights-compliant prison in Australia. It accepted its first detainees in March 2009, having officially opened in September 2008. From 2004 to 2009, ACT Government statements and documents, which presented the philosophy for operating the AMC, consistently emphasised the importance of rehabilitation. A range of rehabilitation objectives were presented: reducing offending behaviour; and encouraging detainees to seek self-improvement, fulfil their potential and lead successful lives in the community. Male detainees are the focus of this performance audit as female detainees were the subject of an independent review in 2014 by the ACT Human Rights Commission. The Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) is a relatively new prison. It incorporates innovative, human rights planning and design, expected to provide an environment to support and foster detainee rehabilitation. This has been compromised due to its relatively small size, multiple classifications, detainee association issues, mixed genders and the unexpected adverse affects of the interaction of these factors with the AMC's design. Lack of continuity in senior management in the first few years of operation contributed to the difficulties. More recently management practices have been effective in fostering improvements including a 'culture change', which emphasises respect in detainee and staff relationships, and have resulted in reductions in the use of force and lockdown hours. These improvements contribute to a healthier context for rehabilitating detainees. AMC planning for rehabilitation is ineffective as there is no rehabilitation planning framework, no evaluation framework and no finalised case management policy framework. With respect to management practices, while there have been improvements, there are inadequacies that need to be addressed including improving business planning, internal performance measures and routine quality assurance and evaluation of programs. As the prison population has increased, the ACT's detainee costs per day and utilisation rates have trended towards the Australian average. However, determining the effectiveness or efficiency of rehabilitation is problematic as there are no generally accepted comprehensive performance measures that can be used for this purpose and there is limited information on rehabilitation costs. Developing these measures will require a national approach and it would be unreasonable to expect the ACT to invest heavily in this given that it is a small jurisdiction with only one prison. Due to the lack of comprehensive performance measures and cost information an overall assessment of effectiveness or efficiency of AMC operations with respect to rehabilitation was not able to be made. However, the proposed levels of rehabilitation activities and services, as anticipated in planning (prior to the opening of the AMC), were assessed and found to be inadequate. Importantly this means a 'structured day' with 'purposeful activity' is not being achieved for many detainees. It is therefore likely that some detainees are bored and this can compromise their rehabilitation. The information management systems used at the AMC are inadequate. While action is underway to make improvements, it is important that priority be given to making the necessary changes as quickly as possible. Details: Canberra: Australia Capital City Auditor General, 2015. 205p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 16, 2015 at: http://www.audit.act.gov.au/auditreports/reports2015/Report%20No.%202%20of%202015%20The%20Rehabilitation%20of%20male%20detainees%20at%20the%20Alexander%20Maconochie%20Centre.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://www.audit.act.gov.au/auditreports/reports2015/Report%20No.%202%20of%202015%20The%20Rehabilitation%20of%20male%20detainees%20at%20the%20Alexander%20Maconochie%20Centre.pdf Shelf Number: 135440 Keywords: Correctional ProgramsMale InmatesMale PrisonersPrisonsRehabilitation |
Author: Gordon, Liz Title: Formative Evaluation report Summary: This brief formative evaluation examines issues arising from the development of a Pillars family/whanau re-integration programme in May and June 2011. The evaluation report is to be submitted to the Department of Corrections along with the written programme and materials that have been developed into the Close to Home package. Most prisoners are parents, and most do not keep in good touch with their children and whanau through the sentence. Yet the research makes it clear that prisoners who get good support from their families/whanau are far less likely to re-offend than those who do not. A range of programmes were researched in developing the programme, and include information on what kind of programme, eligibility issues, length, content and actual and expected outcomes for the courses. This information was used in developing the structure and content of Close to Home. The programme was developed over 6-8 weeks and has been written as a programme workbook for delivery. It is summarised in this report. Features of the programme include: the use of high quality assessment tools and workbooks that have been developed for other programmes; a significant amount of work with the prisoner and whanau present; a strong focus on planning reintegration; and the use of a range of agencies through the Strengthening Families process to facilitate prisoner re-entry. This approach allows for the particular issues facing individual families to be addressed, and for families/whanau to have access to the resources of a wide range of agencies. The programme The programme involves significant pre-release work and also post-release guiding and support. Stakeholders support family/whanau re-integration, although they have a range of different views as to what it entails. There is acknowledgement that prisons currently have not focussed adequately on the role of the family/whanau, nor on the prisoner as a parent. The project materials were analysed. A wide range of good quality materials are available and will be used at various points through the pilot project. Core tools include the Time's Up workbook and the assessment tools, among others. The main findings of the formative evaluation are that a very effective programme has been assembled using a range of resources from a variety of sources. Key risks include the need to bring in a new staff member for the pilot programme phase, and the difficulties in tailoring courses to individual needs. The main risk for the pilot programme is timeliness, as all aspects of the programme will need to be complete within three months. Details: Christchurch, NZ: Pukeko Research Ltd., 2012. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 10, 2016 at: http://www.pillars.org.nz/images/stories/pdfs/formative_evaluation_of_close_to_home.pdf Year: 2012 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.pillars.org.nz/images/stories/pdfs/formative_evaluation_of_close_to_home.pdf Shelf Number: 137834 Keywords: Children of PrisonersCorrectional ProgramsFamilies of InmatesMale InmatesMale PrisonersPrisoner ReentryPrisoner RehabilitationReintegration |
Author: Gordon, Liz Title: Formative Evaluation of the Activities Centre at Christchurch Men's Prison Summary: Should children visit their incarcerated parent in prison? Do prison policies and practices impede or support the maintenance of prisoners' family ties? These questions have been the focus of research both internationally and in New Zealand. The Pillars Inc research project (Gordon, 2009, 2011) which examined the situation of the children of prisoners in New Zealand, found that regulations around prison visiting had become much more stringent in recent years and few opportunities were evident for active parenting in the prison environment. Following Gordon's research, a joint prison/Pillars committee has worked to set up a pilot Activities Centre in the low security visiting area of Christchurch Men's Prison. The Centre's aim was to facilitate father and child bonding and contribute to better family outcomes. In conjunction with this initiative, an evaluation project was undertaken between April and June 2012. The evaluation data was gathered from a number of sources: a review of literature, paperwork, meeting minutes and materials associated with the Centre's background and development; attendance at the Centre over two days to observe, write field notes and undertake evaluative interviews with prisoners and their families; a series of stakeholder interviews. Setting up the Activities Centre was shared, using a task-orientated action model; Pillars were responsible for stocking and staffing the Centre, and Corrections undertook the capital development and furnishings. Preparations went smoothly. Three existing rooms in the visiting centre in Christchurch Mens' Prison were furnished as Arts and Crafts, reading and DVD rooms. The outdoor area was also improved, with a series of painted panels plus the addition of a hopscotch area. High quality toys, games, books and DVDs were purchased. The dates and times of the rooms' availability were well advertised beforehand and visitors could book half hour slots in advance. Although booking was minimal, over the two days that the Activities Centre was evaluated, rooms were full with families at all times. The evaluation visits identified some resource and management issues in accommodating the demand for rooms. Some conditions, such as not taking books, toys etc out of specified rooms, were relaxed in the interest of the families and children. The observer's notes provide a picture of the families' use of the Activities Centre and show that the initiative was highly successful, encouraging 'more normal' parental interactions with children, also providing privacy and quiet. In some cases some transformational changes in children's demeanour and behaviour were observed. The brief survey, undertaken with fourteen families over the two days, revealed that the families clearly enjoyed the space and the only complaint was that the Activities Centre was closed too often. The most popular activities are drawing, colouring and stickers, followed by dolls and cars. Overall the satisfaction ratings for the Activities Centre were very high. Providing adequate staffing was the most problematic issue as volunteers were hard to find. Consequently the centre was run by a Pillars social worker, who was paid for this work. This person believes that two paid staff should be employed to run the Activities Centre. This would allow the centre to open each week and volunteers could still be used as support. The advantage of paid staff is experience, adequate ongoing training, and possibly better skills. However, the need for staffing may make it less likely that other prisons might adopt a similar model. The stakeholders interviewed, consisting of two Corrections staff, two Pillars staff and one volunteer, were strongly supportive of children visiting their parents in prison; in particular, they found value in many aspects of the Activities Centre. The comments mainly focussed on relationship issues and the opportunity for parenting in the prison environment. However, stakeholders also agreed that more needed to be done generally to improve parent/child relationships when a parent is in prison and all offered suggestions about this. Several stakeholders cautioned that the existence and relatively cheap transformation of the rooms was a bonus, but they raised issues about (a) whether this is the best model and (b) whether it is replicable. Various institutional factors were also mentioned. The establishment of a pilot Activities Centre at Christchurch Mens' Prison facilitates father and child bonding and contributes to better family outcomes. The potential benefit of this initiative is clear and other correctional facilities in New Zealand might consider adopting a similar workable model. Details: Christchurch, NZ: Pukeko Research Ltd, 2012. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 11, 2016 at: http://www.pillars.org.nz/images/stories/pdfs/ac_evaluation_report.pdf Year: 2012 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.pillars.org.nz/images/stories/pdfs/ac_evaluation_report.pdf Shelf Number: 137841 Keywords: Children of PrisonersCorrectional ProgramsFamilies of InmatesMale InmatesMale PrisonersParenting |
Author: Gobeil, Renee Title: Releases of Men Offenders Classified as Medium and Maximum Security Summary: In recent years, the percentage of men offenders released at their statutory release dates has been increasing, and many of these releases occur from medium and maximum security institutions. This study was undertaken to follow up on these patterns both by examining the risks associated with release directly from medium- and maximum-security institutions and by exploring the factors that may be associated with not being granted parole and/or with not cascading, or transferring,to a minimum-security institution prior to release. Analyses included all 4,455 male offenders released on day or full parole or on statutory release in fiscal year 2013-14. Of these, most were classified as minimum (45%) or medium (49%) security at release. Analyses focused on comparing the groups of offenders using administrative data. In addition, thematic analyses were used to analyze data in narrative security review and parole recommendation assessments. Offenders released from higher levels of security had higher rates of suspensions, revocations, and re-offences in the year following release. These differences remained present when analyses were limited to only statutorily-released offenders, and relative differences remained very similar regardless of the special conditions imposed at release (e.g., residency condition). In other words, results aligned with previous findings that offenders released from higher levels of security were more likely to return to custody, even after accounting for certain offender differences. The second series of analyses focused on identifying possible factors associated with offenders not cascading to lower levels of security prior to release, and/or being released on statutory release rather than on day or full parole. Offenders statutorily-released from different security levels differed importantly even at intake, suggesting that many differences were present prior to their periods of incarceration rather than developed while in custody. Offenders classified as medium or maximum security at release and those who were statutorily released were consistently higher risk, less engaged in their correctional plan, less motivated and less accountable. They also had more institutional misbehaviour and lacked insight or responsibility regarding their offences. Perhaps more interesting, however, were findings relating to opportunities. Over a third (38%) of offenders statutorily-released while classified as medium or maximum security did not undergo a security classification review (e.g., due to the short length of their sentence, or to avoid a negative outcome) - in other words, they did not have or take the chance to be reclassified to a lower level of security. Moreover, a considerable number of offenders classified as medium and maximum security waived or withdrew their opportunities to be considered for discretionary release (i.e., day or full parole). Overall, these findings suggest that it is not only characteristics of offenders that are contributing to these release patterns but also opportunities missed or not taken. As such, it may be fruitful to develop action plans that facilitate offenders transferring to minimum security prior to their release. Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2015. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: 2015 N R-376: Accessed October 19, 2017 at: http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/scc-csc/PS83-3-376-eng.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Canada URL: http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/scc-csc/PS83-3-376-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 147734 Keywords: Male PrisonersParoleParoleesRecidivism |