Self-management of inmates

Transcription

1 Self-management of inmates Possibilities to promote self-sufficiency of inmates Toon Molleman, PhD London-Egham, March 27th 2015

2 Responsibilization: from blind efficiency to self providing inmates In the course of time Dutch prisons took over all kind of inmate tasks For example, contracting out cooking was considered cheaper than organizing cooking activities with inmates (security costs) Even sometimes contracting out cleaning, laundry, painting, gardening. Inmate labour showed to be running at constant loss (poor acquisition and expensive materials and staff) Daily program is heavily structured, limited autonomy and responsibility of inmates Learned helplessness

3 What s new? Goals of safety, humanity and re-integration are unchanged The way to achieve these goals changed, we take first steps now Old situation: staff provides good prison conditions and actively help to re-integrate inmates: staff is initiating actor, inmate should be tempted to re-integrate New situation: responsibility of good conditions and provisions is with the inmate himself/herself. Inmate is initiating actor, amenities and provisions have to be deserved and are no longer automatic rights

4 Contingency management Dutch style Provisions can be deserved by good behavior Basic regimen and plus regimen: Promotion / degradation Green, orange and red behavior Multiple discipline meeting of professionals assesses the behavior Good behavior refers to obeying to house rules, responsible attitude regarding hygiene of their cells, personal care and re-integration What can we do more to make inmates more self-sufficient and save money at the same time?

5 Research synthesis To know what kind of practices exist woldwide, a systematic research synthesis is conducted What are experiences in Western countries with practices regarding selfsufficiency of people in closed settings? Extensive set of search terms among which: self-sufficiency, selfmanagement, autonomy, strength based treatment, inmate-run, peer support, decreasing/lowering security level, IT, reducing inmate stress, increasing self confidence, inmate independency. And combinations of these terms. ScholarGoogle, PubMed, Web of Science Request expert researchers last year in Bruxelles

6 Self-sufficiency of inmates Self-sufficiency refers to the ability to do the basic act activities of life independently: generate an income, keep physically and mentally healthy and having a social network Self-sufficiency of inmates may also refer to the ability to help running the prison Positive effect on re-integration Saves costs of staff, costs of unnecessary care and security

7 Daily program ACTIONS AND MEASURES CONCERNING SELF-SUFFICIENCY (Self-)Management Environment Technological developments Religion, arts, shop, cooking, labor, sport, library, education Peer programs, animal programs, token economy, therapeutic community Light, color, music, sound and so on ICT and related possibilities Direct MECHANISMS Indirect Stimulating self-sufficient behavior: strength based & coping theories Circumstances in which self-sufficient behavior flourishes: theories on social control, crime prevention and broken windows theory OUTCOMES (INDICATORS SELF SUFFICIENCY) Positively formulated Negatively formulated Behavior Healthy and hygienic behavior, pro-social andc responsible behavior Anti-social and violent behavior, directed at staff, fellow inmates or self Experience / awareness Knowledge on risks, social skills - Psychological consequences Self esteem, independency, self respect Anxiety, rage, depression, stress

8 Criteria for inclusion / exclusion Scientific publications (peer reviewed) Appeared after 2000 Context of closed setting Inmates get extra responsibily No measures that requires extra staff No measures that set safety at risk

9 A. Daily Program (1) Measure Result Mechanism Evidence Sport and exercise Inmate s ability to cope with stress increases. Safety and budget consequences unknown Sport can serve as a coping strategy to reduce strain/tension Moderate: three studies show some consistence on the link Nutrition and the preperation of food Religion and sprituality Scarce evidence for the effect of cooking activities. Inmates who take extra nutrition supplements are less associated with violent incidents Religious inmates are less involved in prison violence, costs of activities unknown (mentoring, monitoring etc.) By choosing the right nutrients, inmates show less anti-social behavior and are therefore more self-sufficient Sharing moral values, establish social bondings within religious community withhold inmate from antisocial behavior Strong: two studies show evidence on the causality between nutrients (fish oil, Omega 3 fatty acids) and behavior Moderate: findings are based on self-report data, some causal evidence found in a long term spiritual program

10 A. Daily Program (2) Measure Result Mechanism Evidence Music activities (music therapy excluded) Unload stress, building identity May function as exhaust valve Weak: studies are only descriptive and give little indication of effectivity Education Above all good results after detention. During detention education would contribute to self-efficacy Positieve way of spending time and develop impulsory control Weak: Some evidence on increase of self-efficacy (based on self-report). Effects on costs unknown Visits (close family or volunteers) Above all good results after detention. Inmates who receive visits are less involved in prison violence and have less depressive complaints Through social ties with the outside world one may cope with incarceration more easily and inmates may improve social skills Moderate: Consistent findings in multiple studies, Effects on costs unknown

11 B. (Self-) management Measure Result Mechanism Evidence Peer education programs (fellow inmates, former inmates) Programs with animals Token economy Inmates better understand their own pitfalls and risks (hygiene, addiction, unsafe sex). Programs seem to be at least as effective as professional led programs Increase of sense of responsibility, reduction of feelings of lonelyness and isolation More pro-social behavior and better educational results Via role modelling inmates copy pro-social behavior. As they identify more easy with fellow inmate, effects are stronger Through unconditional nature of human-animal relationship inmates can practice with building positive relationships Direct punishment/rewarding stimulates good behavior Therapeutic community Change in lifestyle Population forms a community that supports or corrects to establish changes Moderate: varying evidence for different programs but have low costs and fit into self-sufficiency ideology Weak: Only indicative evidence based on self report, programs are now and then costly Moderate: evidence is convincing but is out-of-date Moderate: Studies show consistency although res. designs are not too strong

12 C. Environment (1) Measure Result Mechanism Evidence Architectural design Small and self-providing units report less violent incidents Units feel like home and contacts between staff and inmates are therefore more close which leads to more prosocial behavior Weak: findings in studies contradict Security level Lowering security level goes along with lower costs without increase of violence By being restraint with limitations for inmates, psychological damage and unnecessary costs are avoided Strong: evidence is found in multiple studies with a experimental design in the USA Light and view Access to sunlight, light and outside view decreases depressive complaints, impulsivity and aggresion Stimulation of serotonine production and sensory stimulation Weak: findings are not specific for closed settings

13 C. Environment (2) Measure Result Mechanism Evidence Use of color Sound Plants, gardens and green Some colors evoke aggression, other colors work restful Noise can result in sleeping problems and may yield aggression. Relaxing music reduces anger and anxiety. Plants reduce health complaints. Gardening gives opportunity to reflect on one s behavior and generates positive experiences Because color sets the atmosphere in a room it would evoke emotional associations Resonating rooms and hard materials can make prisons noisy places. Music may induce the opposite Improved prison climate (air) reduces health complaints and stress which results in less aggression. Gardening would help work through grieve and give the opportunity to step out the hard social reality of the prison for some time Weak: evidence is rejected. A suggestion still is that color can prevent for monotony and boredom Strong: Different studies with experimental design have similar findings Weak: Findings contradict and are based on self-report data

14 D. Technological developments Touch screens and tablet: inmates schedule their program Much autonomy and punishment/rewards follows directly upon behavior Videoconferencing, intelligent camera s, biometrics (inmate identification), internet and internet for inmates Gamification: serious gaming for re-integration Virtual humans or humanoids (destributing medicine, food, groceries; security tasks)

15 D. Technological developments Measure Result Mechanism Evidence Digitalizing provisions Use of IT in inmate labor (call centre / document preparation) Provisions become cheaper, their availability increases, inmate can assess them independently (visits & psychological support) Contribute to self-sufficient skills Via videoconferencing a similar service quality level is achieved compared to face-toface modalities Develop relevant skills contribute to self esteem and future perspectives Moderate: Study designs are strong, but evidence is based on self-report data (on inmate satisfaction, not treatment outcome) Weak: studies give only indicative results

16 What we didn t find in the literature All kind of promising technological developments Well-known self-sufficient concepts like Bastoy and Ruiselede Mostly no information on security of the prison and costs How the findings may be applied to the Dutch situation (although we assessed that) We exluded grey and commercial publications and texts to be sure of independent conclusions There may be many more interesting self-sufficient initiatives

17 What s next? Dutch policy makers look to the results and assess which measures are most promising. They may look at: * Costs * Connection with on-going measures * Consequences for the role of staff * Type of evidence

18 Discussion Our website has an English version and all our reports are given an English summary