Responsibilisation and female imprisonment in contemporary penal policy: ‘Respect Modules’ (‘Módulos de Respeto’) in Spain

Abstract

In order to advance the study of female penal enforcement in the 21st century, this article examines how new strategies of neoliberal penal governance, introduced over the past decade in Spain, take shape in everyday practices and dynamics of prison life, as well as examining intersections with traditional forms of punishment and discipline. More specifically, this study addresses the case of Respect Modules (‘Módulos de Respeto’) in women’s facilities, and the article reveals that the implementation of practices of classification and responsibilisation reinforces traditional features of female penal enforcement in the Spanish penal system such as discipline, control and obedience. These technologies of the self are built on gender, race and nationality stereotypes. The article demonstrates how the current evolution of the penal system leads to an increasingly severe discipline and to a persistent inadequate attention paid to incarcerated women’s needs. Finally, the methodology of the research was qualitative, consisting of non-participatory direct observation in three prisons and interviews with incarcerated women, technical and management teams, political authorities and former authorities of the prison system.

Gender equality in prison reform in Spain: how a gender-biased, closed policy system prevents real change

“…These include: the impact of macro prisons, which limit social and family contacts, as they are located far from cities; the clear minority representation of women (Almeda, 2002); the over-representation of and discrimination against certain groups, such as foreigners (Miranda et al, 2005;Ribas et al, 2005;Ruiz-García and Castillo-Algarra, 2014) and the Roma population (Barañí Team, 2001;; and the particularities of drug users (De Miguel Calvo, 2016). Others have highlighted, among other things: difficulties related to motherhood and children (Gea et al, 2014;Yagüe, 2006); the gendered impacts of new programmes , 2018); specific vulnerabilities affecting transgender prisoners (Urra Grimal, 2017); the reinforcement of traditional gender roles (Ballesteros-Pena, 2017; Valenzuela-Vela and Alcázar-Campos, 2020); and problems with training and socio-labour integration after women are released from prison (MIP Project, 2005).…”

“…Finally, the frame of individuals as productive members of the economy and society was put into practice by prioritising such programmes as Respect Modules. These programmes sought the creation of a 'normalised' environment that enables the implementation of interventions that address individual and social needs (for further analysis, see Ballesteros-Pena, 2018), paired with the Medio abierto (Open Prison) programme that offers prisoners the opportunity to serve part of their sentence outside prison.…”

“…In addition to interviews with prison staff, 86 women prisoners were interviewed. For more details, see 2018). 2 Due to this article's word limit, we cannot provide a comprehensive description of the CFA methodology.…”

“…Since the 1970s, researchers in these disciplines have studied discrimination against women in the prison system and the gendered nature of punishment (see, among others, Carlen, 1983;Heidensohn, 1985;Gelsthorpe, 1989). They have unveiled the persistent forms of discrimination and gendered prejudices embedded in penal policies and prison programmes (see, among others, Hannah-Moffat, 2001;McCorkel, 2004;Haney, 2010;Owen et al, 2017;, 2018). Some policyoriented studies have proposed solutions to improve conditions for women in penal facilities through alternative rehabilitation pathways (Bloom et al, 2003;Player, 2014;Gelsthorpe and Russell, 2018) that consider the social issues of poverty and abuse, women's strengths, adequate treatment, recovery and support services (Covington and Bloom, 2007).…”

Peculiar responsibilization? Exploring a governing strategy in an atypical prison in the Global South

“…Global North scholars have often associated responsibilization strategy in prison government with neoliberalism as a broader governmental rationality (Garland, 1996: 462, 1997: 192–192, 196–198; O’Malley, 1999: 177, 183–185; Hannah-Moffat, 2000: 514, 522, 2001: 163; Maurutto and Hannah-Moffat, 2006: 451; Crewe, 2009: 142, 2011b: 456; Goodman, 2012: 438; Ballesteros-Pena, 2018: 459, 471). The peculiarities of the Punta de Rieles responsibilization strategy are directly influenced by the actual architects of this strategy, 24 current and former wardens Rolando Arbesún and Luis Parodi, who stand far from neoliberalism as a governmental rationality.…”