Healthier prisons: the role of a prison visitors' centre

Abstract

Since the inception of the prison as a 'setting' for health promotion, there has been a focus on how the health of those men and women who spend 'time inside' can at least be maintained and if possible, enhanced, during their prison sentence. This paper presents findings from a mainly qualitative evaluation of a prison visitors' centre in the UK. It reports experiences of prisoners' families, prisoners, prison staff, the local community and the ways in which the visitors' centre has contributed positively to their health and well-being. In addition, key stakeholders were interviewed to ascertain the role this visitors' centre has in policy frameworks related to re-offending. The findings from this evaluation underscore how the visitors' centre improved the quality of visits, and contributed towards the maintenance of family ties through the help and support it provides for families and prisoners. The paper concludes by suggesting that visitors' centres are an essential part of a modern prison service helping to address the government's health inequalities agenda.Word count: 167 3

The significance of ‘the visit’ in an English category-B prison: views from prisoners, prisoners’ families and prison staff

“…Previous research over the past decade suggests that families visiting prisons have to overcome many barriers in terms of physical, financial and emotional strains (Cunningham, 2001;Loucks, 2004;McEvoy, O'Mahoney, Horner, & Lyner, 1999;Woodall, et al, 2009). Families experienced a range of emotions including fear, shame, sadness, embarrassment, frustration and loss.…”

“…Thirdly, a prisoner's mental health is often contingent on his contact with the outside world (Woodall, Dixey, Green, & Newell, 2009). The presence of visitors can 'normalise' the prison environment and function as a reminder of the outside world and its associated responsibilities (Hairston, 1991;Mills, 2005).…”

Eroding Legitimacy? The Impact of Imprisonment on the Relationships between Families, Communities, and the Criminal Justice System

“…This strategy of 'hanging around' led to the recruitment of a particular group of families who, first and foremost, had made the decision to maintain their relationships by actively visiting the prison. Not all families affected by imprisonment will choose to do so, and many relationships break down over the course of a custodial sentence (Woodall et al, 2009). Further, at the time of the research, the Visitors' Centre delivered a range of support expressly informed by the principles of community education; a pedagogical approach characterized by shared learning and working together to meet the social, political, and personal needs of the group in question (Ceesay, 2012).…”

Striving for a “good” family visit: the facilitative role of a prison visitors’ centre

“…"It is derisory that there are still visitors' centres that are unfit for purpose, such as the converted containers that serve as the only waiting areas at some sites" Support services for prisoners' families and their children, particularly the running and management of prison visitors' centres, have been one area that the community and voluntary sector has made significant contribution to the criminal justice system (Light, 1993, Codd, 2008, Woodall et al, 2009). These facilities frequently offer practical, financial and emotional support to prisoners' families where they are available (Christian, 2005).…”