Prison for Beginners? The Strengths, Limitations and Potential Applications of Prisoner Handbooks

Abstract

Within this article we conduct a critical analysis of three prisoner handbooks: HM Prison Service: A Survival Guide (Cattermole 2011); The Little Book of Prison (Owens 2012); and Prisoners Information Book for Male Prisoners and Young Offenders (Prison Reform Trust and HM Prison Service 2008). We conclude that whilst currently falling short of meeting the needs of a diverse prison population, with further development, prisoner handbooks constitute a valuable potential tool in adaptation to prison life which can benefit not only prisoners but all those with a stake in the criminal justice system.The provision of information for offenders regarding expectations of, and preparations for, their prison sentences appears to be an underresearched area. In the English and Welsh context, there is a range of hard-copy and electronic handbook resources produced by the State and third sector, upon which prisoners and their families are able to draw

How Does Timing Affect Trauma Treatment for Women Who Are Incarcerated? An Empirical Analysis

“…Adjusting to being incarcerated can be stressful, possibly even traumatic, and women with histories of sexual assault struggle with adjustment more so than do women without sexual assault histories (Islam-Zwart & Vik, 2004 ; Yardley & Wilson, 2013), although the concern that prisons are necessarily chronically stressful is likely overstated (Bonta & Gendreau, 1990). Because most women who are incarcerated have a history of prior trauma exposure (Karlsson & Zielinski, 2018), incorporating trauma treatments into therapeutic programming in prison settings is a priority (Hall et al, 2013).…”

“…Although for some women prison can offer more stability and safety than their lives in the community (e.g., Bradley & Davino, 2002), prison entry periods are often characterized by feelings of uncertainty, fear, and isolation (Yardley & Wilson, 2013). Incarceration is a stressful life event that requires modifications of basic life patterns.…”

“…Incarceration is a stressful life event that requires modifications of basic life patterns. People who are incarcerated are required to live in close proximity to one another, adhere to strict rules and regulations, and lose the ability to make many of their own decisions (Yardley & Wilson, 2013). Female gender, younger age, having children, lower socioeconomic status, and preexisting psychopathology and/or victimization experiences are each associated with greater difficulties adjusting to life in prison (DiCataldo et al, 1995; Islam-Zwart & Vik, 2004).…”

“…Given the transition to prison involves significant disruptions in daily activities and has been described as highly stressful (even somewhat traumatic; Yardley & Wilson, 2013), we evaluated whether trauma treatments might be more effective if delivered after an initial adjustment period to prison by analyzing data from women in a minimum-security prison who participated in our exposure-based group trauma treatment. In addition to our group, the women are required by the prison to participate in various therapeutic programming (e.g., mindfulness meditation, Celebrate Recovery, spirituality-based groups, jobs, individual counseling).…”

“…Here, we examined whether there is evidence that women should not participate in trauma-focused therapy while adjusting to prison-or if nearly simultaneous engagement in adjustment-focused programming and trauma therapy could still be beneficial-by analyzing whether the therapeutic benefits of participation in a voluntary exposure-based trauma treatment for sexual assault victimization varied as a function of time since incarceration. We viewed this question as important given that entry to prison has been described as potentially traumatic and as an experience that may exacerbate existing trauma symptoms (yardley & Wilson, 2013).…”