The Offender Personality Disorder Pathway was introduced in England and Wales in 2012 to manage high risk offenders with personality disorder. One of the key outcomes of the Pathway is to reduce re-offending. A national mixed methods evaluation was undertaken, and this paper presents findings from the qualitative interviews focussing on staff's perceptions of the Pathway's ability to impact on re-offending in this population. Interviews were carried out with 38 staff and analysed using a framework analysis. Staff reported that the Pathway: improved their understanding of individuals and what drives their offending; developed their confidence to manage this population; and enhanced inter-agency communication. They were less convinced of any direct impact on re-offending. Early indicators of the Pathway show it has value in improving engagement, risk management, staff skills, and inter-agency working. Whether this is enough to reduce re-offending will take time to establish. Supporting Men with Long-Standing Personality Difficulties Linked to Serious and Violent Offending Behaviour: Staff Views on a Pathway Programme designed to Reduce Repeat Serious and Violent OffendingThe Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway was introduced in England and Wales in 2012 to improve how services manage people who have long standing personality difficulties which are linked to serious and violent offending behaviour. These individuals are considered high risk of repeating serious and violent offences and one of the key aims of the Pathway is to reduce this repeat re-offending by improving how these individuals are assessed, supported and supervised. A national evaluation was carried out which involved collecting criminal justice system data and also carrying out interviews with both staff working in these services and individuals receiving the services. This paper reports on findings from interviews with 38 staff working in services involved in the Pathway. The interviews explored staff views about whether the Pathway is helping to reduce re-offending among high-risk individuals with personality difficulties. Overall, staff were positive about the changes the Pathway has brought. They felt it had improved their understanding of the people they work with, particularly the complex factors that contribute to offending behaviour. Staff also reported feeling more confident in managing individuals who present high levels of risk and have personality difficulties. In addition, they described better communication and collaboration between agencies, such as prison, probation and health services, which they believed led to more coordinated and consistent support. However, staff were less certain about whether the Pathway can directly reduce repeat offending. Many felt that changes in repeat offending rates can take time to become clear. Instead, they saw the Pathway’s impact as more indirect. By improving engagement with individuals, improving risk management, and increasing staff knowledge and skills, the Pathway may create the right conditions for repeat offending to reduce over the longer term.
This study examines the victim-offender overlap among incarcerated youth in Taiwan's juvenile correctional facilities, focusing on how violent victimization histories shape their experiences of misconduct and victimization during confinement. Drawing on a national census of youth in custody, multinomial logistic regression was employed to compare victim-offenders with victims-only, offenders-only, and uninvolved youth. Results indicate that violent victimization prior to incarceration is the most consistent factor distinguishing victim-offenders from all other groups. Additional differentiating factors include age, poverty, low self-control, street gang involvement, institutional stressors, and in-facility peer and family support. These findings highlight the need for trauma-informed interventions and early prevention to mitigate cycles of harm and promote rehabilitation. Youth Who Have Been Hurt Before Are More Likely to Be Both Victims and Offenders in Juvenile FacilitiesThis study looks at young people living in juvenile correctional facilities in Taiwan. Many of these youth have experienced violence earlier in their lives, either at home or in their communities. When they enter correctional facilities, some of them continue to experience harm from others, and some engage in harmful behaviors themselves. Some do both. This is known as the “victim-offender overlap.” Using national survey data from youth in all juvenile facilities in Taiwan, this study compared four groups: youth who were only victims in the facility, youth who only committed misconduct, youth who were both victims and offenders, and youth who did neither. The goal was to understand what makes the victim-offender group different. The study found that the most important factor separating the victim-offender group from the others was a history of being violently harmed before entering the facility. In other words, young people who were hurt or abused earlier in life were much more likely to both hurt others and be hurt while confined. Other factors also mattered, such as growing up in poverty, having difficulty controlling emotions, being involved in street gangs, and the level of stress or support experienced inside the facility. These findings show that what happens to young people before they enter the juvenile justice system continues to affect them inside it. If past trauma is not recognized and addressed, cycles of harm can continue. The results suggest that juvenile facilities should use trauma-informed approaches. This means identifying youth who have been harmed, understanding how trauma affects behavior, and providing counseling, emotional support, and safer environments. Breaking cycles of victimization and offending is essential for rehabilitation and supporting youth in returning to their communities in healthier ways.
Based on an early 2020s survey of 3,500 police officers from nine countries, this paper explores perceived community and police adherence to the COVID-19 regulations. We propose that both public and police perceived adherence with the COVID-19 rules are related not only to individual-level factors (e.g., gender, concern for own health) but also to country-level factors (e.g., quality of governance, protection of citizens' rights). Our findings reveal that individual-level factors, such as the concerns for personal and family health, were strong and consistent predictors of perceived community and police adherence. While misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with the perceived community adherence, it was not related to the perceived police adherence. Moreover, country-level factors, such as the stringency of COVID-19 rules and regulations and the protection of citizens' rights, were also significantly related to both perceived community and police adherence. A comparative exploration of perceived community and police adherence to COVID-19 regulationsIntroduction: To curtail the spread of the COVID-19 virus, governments across the world have introduced new legal rules. While existing research reveals that citizens’ individual characteristics may be related to their own willingness to adhere to such rules, to what degree is their willingness to adhere the rules related to their country characteristics? In this study, we simultaneously study the influence of individual and country characteristics on the perceived citizens’ and police officers’ willingness to follow the COVID-19 rules. In early 2020, we carried out surveys of police officers in nine countries. Because these 3,500 police officers nested within countries, we use multilevel modeling to assess the relative strength of both individual characteristics and country characteristics on the respondents’ perceived adherence to the COVID-19 rules. The surveyed police officers who had health-related concerns and personal fear of contracting the COVID-19 were more likely to say that they and the local community would adhere to the governmental rules and regulations. The police officers who believed in the misinformation about the COVID-19 were also more likely to believe that the community members would adhere to the COVID-19 rules. In the countries in which their governments introduced more severe COVID-19 rules, officers reported that they would be more likely to adhere to the rules and that their community would do the same. In contrast, in the countries in which citizen rights are protected and praised, police officers reported lower levels of their own and community adherence to pandemic rules and regulations. What do the findings mean: When scholars try to understand why people obey the law and legal rules, they should simultaneously include measures of the respondents’ individual characteristics and characteristics of the environment in which respondents live.
High rates of recidivism persist among incarcerated men, particularly those with extensive trauma histories, while many rehabilitation programs remain primarily cognitively focused. This systematic review synthesizes evidence on experiential psychotherapies, including mindfulness-based interventions, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), yoga, meditation, and creative arts therapies delivered in forensic settings to adult males. Twenty-four studies met inclusion criteria. Thematic synthesis identified three outcome domains: (1) psychological and emotional well-being, including reductions in stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma symptoms; (2) behavioral and cognitive regulation, including improved impulse control and prosocial identity shifts; and (3) recidivism and desistance, with several studies-particularly those examining Transcendental Meditation and structured mindfulness programs-reporting reduced reoffending. Evidence for Compassion Focused Therapy and most creative arts therapies was limited or absent. Overall, findings suggest experiential psychotherapies may support emotional regulation, identity change, and desistance, though heterogeneity in study design and outcomes limits generalizability and highlights the need for more rigorous longitudinal research. Can Mindfulness, Yoga, and Related Therapies Help Reduce Reoffending? A Review of the EvidenceMany people who go to prison return again after release. This is especially true for men who have lived through trauma, violence, or neglect and who struggle with strong emotions such as anger, fear, or shame. Most rehabilitation programs focus on changing how people think, but they often do not address how people feel in their bodies or how they experience their emotions. This review looked at whether therapies based on experience and awareness, such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and creative activities, can help people in prison change in deeper and longer-lasting ways. We reviewed 24 studies from several countries that tested these approaches with men in prisons and other secure settings. We looked at three main outcomes: mental and emotional health, behavior and self-control, and whether people returned to crime after release. Many studies found that these therapies helped reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma symptoms. People often reported better emotional control, greater self-awareness, and a more positive sense of who they are. Some programs, especially meditation-based approaches, were also linked to lower rates of reoffending. However, the studies used different methods and were not all high quality. There was also very little research on compassion-based therapy or creative arts programs. Overall, these approaches show promise as part of rehabilitation. They may help people heal from trauma, manage their emotions, and build a new sense of self. More long-term and carefully designed studies are still needed.
International students' stories and perceptions of crime remain an underexplored topic within the fields of crime perception and fear of crime. This article examines how Chinese international students narrate their fear and expectation of crime in the UK and explores how these narratives reflect their acceptance or rejection of dominant crime stories. Drawing on interviews with 21 Chinese students, the study employs thematic and structural narrative analysis to identify key patterns and themes in how participants anticipate, respond to, and make sense of crime in the UK. The findings reveal how differing expectations or imaginaries of crime and lived experiences intertwine to form narrative structures through which participants interpret crime and adjust their behaviour. These structures include narratives of change, narratives of continuity as well as narratives of absence of crime as a pertinent issue. How Chinese Students Studying in the UK Understand Crime and Safety Through Everyday StoriesThis study looks at how Chinese international students understand crime and safety while studying in the United Kingdom. Many students arrive with ideas about crime that come from news, social media, family discussions, and stories shared within their communities. These ideas often shape what they expect the UK to be like. Once they begin living in the UK, they compare these expectations with their own day-to-day experiences. We spoke to 21 Chinese students at different stages of their studies. Instead of using technical language or complicated theories, the study focuses on the personal stories students told about crime and safety. Listening to these stories helps us understand how students decide what feels safe or unsafe, and how they adjust their behaviour in response. The interviews showed three main ways students make sense of crime. Some students described feeling that the UK is less or more safe than they expected, and they changed their routine behaviour. Others found that their initial views were right over time as they learned more about their surroundings and felt more settled. A third group said that crime simply did not play a big role in their lives, and they rarely thought about it. Overall, this study shows that students’ views about crime are formed through a mix of rumours, shared stories, and personal experiences. Their narratives show how expectations, emotions, and real-life encounters shape their understanding of danger and safety. These insights can help universities, support services, and policymakers provide better information and guidance for international students so that they feel more confident and secure while studying abroad.
The SAPROF-SO was developed as a measure of protective factors relevant to sexual recidivism to support a balanced, holistic assessment of recidivism risk. Traditionally, sexual recidivism risk has been largely understood in terms of the density of risk factors presented by the individual, as measured by instruments like the Static-99R. This paper investigated how far the recidivism risk implied by a Static-99R score would be moderated by the presence of protective factors as measured by the SAPROF-SO Version 1. Data representing 5-year sexual recidivism, along with scores on Static-99R and the SAPROF-SO Version 1, were collated from previously collected samples of men with a history of sexual offending who had been selected for prison treatment programs designed to reduce sexual recidivism risk in Canada and New Zealand, giving a combined sample of N = 467. Fitting a logistic regression equation to predict 5-year sexual recidivism indicated that both instruments were predictive, with the SAPROF-SO powerfully moderating the level of risk implied by Static-99R scores. Implications for clinical assessment are discussed and an Excel-based calculator implementing the logistic regression equation was developed for clinical use. Both Risk Factors and Protective Factors Matter When Assessing Risk for Sexual ReoffendingWhy was the study done? Psychologists commonly assess sexual reoffending risk using clinician-rated instruments measuring the presence of risk factors based on criminal history information. A substantial body of research shows sexual reoffending increasing as risk scores rise. Emerging research suggests assessment of changeable protective factors (e.g., effective coping with stress, sexual self-regulation, prosocial ways of achieving goals) may improve the accuracy of sexual reoffending risk assessments. This study was intended to investigate how well assessment of protective factors improves predictive accuracy in sexual reoffending risk assessments. What did the researchers do? They obtained data for 3 samples of prison-based treatment participants who had been rated on Static-99R (a measure of risk factors based on criminal history) and the SAPROF-SO Version 1 (a measure of protective factors rated after treatment) and related both to rates of sexual reoffending occurring during the 5 years after release. What did the researchers find? Out of 467 treatment participants who were followed up for 5 years 43 were reconvicted for a sex offense. Scores on Static-99R and the SAPROF-SO were both predictive of sexual reoffending. Rates of reoffending were highest for individuals with a high level of risk factors and low level of protective factors. When protective factors were at least moderately developed, sexual reoffending rates were low even for men with a high level of risk. A formula for combining the two measures to predict sexual reoffending was developed. What do the findings mean? Instead of focusing solely on risk factors as has been done in the past, assessment should include both risk factors and protective factors.
In previous papers, we have explored how songs written in prison, and the process of collaborative songwriting that produced them, served as devices for solving relational and personal problems that imprisonment poses. Here, drawing on data from the same project (Distant Voices: Coming Home), we explore and analyse how humour featured both in the songwriting process and in some of the songs, focussing on two songs written by women in prison. Our analysis reveals how humour worked in these contexts as a technology of community-building and as a mode of subtle subversion, insubordination and 'soft resistance' to penal power. However, we also note the importance of attending to humour's temporariness, its deniability and its unpredictability. As such, prison humour occupies an unusual but important position in narrative terms, somewhere between the said and the unsaid; and that position allows it to do important personal, relational and political work. Humour, Connection and Resistance in PrisonsThis paper discussed a project (Distant Voices: Coming Home) that used the unusual method of collaborative songwriting (undertaken in prison-based workshops in Scotland, UK) to explore how people experienced and made sense of their pathways into and time in prison; it also explored their plans and hopes for life after prison. In the workshops, professional musicians co-wrote songs with those in prison, with the additional support of skilled groupworkers and researchers.Here, we focus specifically on the role that humour played in these workshops and in the songs that they produced. In particular, we discuss the views, experiences, thoughts and feelings of some of the imprisoned women who took part in the workshops, and of the teams that ran the workshops. We zone in on two quite different songs: ‘The Queen’s Hotel’ very directly represents aspects and challenges of prison life, while ‘Midnight Scampi’ reflects with humour and warmth upon one woman’s relationship with her (now deceased) mother.The main argument in the paper is that humour played an important role in helping the women in prison to build connection and community not just with those involved in the workshops, but with other people in prison, and – more indirectly – with people outside. In some ways, this also helped them to resist and undermine aspects of the power to which they were subjected as prisoners; a kind of power that imposes an over-simplified, distorted and degrading version of who they are. Humour is one way that the women tried to resist these processes and reclaim some control over their own stories. In that sense, prison humour is both personal and political.
Expanding on the largely omitted concept "frustrated desistance," the paper approaches desistance as an ambiguous, non-linear and contradictory experience. Qualitative interviews conducted with case managers and participants of a voluntary Swedish desistance and gang defector program were analyzed to add nuance to desistance derailment in an offender rehabilitative setting. While ostensibly a "hook for change," the program struggled to provide appropriate assistance. Rather than facilitating desistance, various contrarian (and occasionally contradictory) institutional practices were found to undermine such efforts, subverting the very notion of a hook. When torn between conflicting motivations, treatment engagement is disincentivized rather than encouraged, creating dissonance and turmoil. Placed against these contradictions and weighed down by the many burdens of liminality, the agent may "loosen" or "slip off" the hook. Illegal debts accrued from involvement in drug trade ("street debts") and interrelated security concerns constitute two hitherto unrecognized frustrations that complicate desistance efforts. The findings underscore how desistance is always situated in the context of other concerns and demands, with practical implications for offender rehabilitation. To “lose the hold” or “slip off” a hook means to forgo an opportunity to desist from crime when overwhelmed by the stressing elements (pains, losses, struggles, etc.) associated with leaving a criminal lifestyle. Pinned against the many concerns and demands of a crime-free life, the individual becomes frustrated with ensuing relapses in crime. The term liminality signifies the limbo state many aspiring desisters find themselves in after they have abandonded their criminal lifestyle but before a new, crime-free life has materialised.Case managers and participants in a Swedish offender rehabilitation program were interviewed. Although the program was voluntary, many participants dropped out. Despite the program’s stated objective to help their participants with the many obstacles they faced, the support was lacking. At the same time, the program had several demands that the participants needed to comply with. Forced to weigh the many losses of desistance with the demands placed on them by the program, the experience of desisting from crime becomes contradictory. When attempts to desist are “frustrated,” early dropouts and relapses in crime and drug use are expected outcome. Like a heavy anchor, the individual is weighed down by these burdens, making desistance harder to accomplish. The paper also discusses the significance of “street debts” (debts owed to other criminals) and security concerns. The study finds that offenders risk being subjected to violence upon leaving a gang. When indebted to other criminals, offenders might have to stay in the gang for a longer time to “work off” the debt. The incentive to be safe thus conflicts with the incentive to desist. The aspiring desisters found themselves “frustrated” to the point that they choose to suspend or abandon their desistance journey. The findings have practical implications for preventing relapses in crime, and especially in an offender rehabilitative setting.
Addressing the contemporary relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve calls for nuanced attention to how individuals construct the emotions they experience toward police. One important such consideration is fear. Leveraging three established psychological conduits of fear of crime proposed by Jackson (perceptions of likelihood, severity, and control), we investigate the psychological construction of fear of unjustified police harm and how those relationships may differ across racial/ethnic identities. Results suggest that perceptions of the likelihood and severity of police harm independently predict fear, but that control plays a much more limited role. Additionally, our analyses provide little evidence that these relationships are importantly different as a function of the focal individual's race/ethnicity. We therefore argue that interventions designed to improve public attitudes toward the police that focus on improving perceptions of its likelihood and severity are particularly worthwhile. Given its clear role in many other risky contexts but the lack of strong evidence in our data, we also call for future research to better understand what role, if any, is played by control. Understanding Fear of Police Through Different Perceptions of HarmIn consideration of police brutality disproportionately harming minoritized communities, there is increasing concern for how members of different identities feel toward police, especially feelings of fear. Through the investigation of established psychological conduits of fear (Jackson, 2009; perceptions of likelihood, severity, and control), we investigate how the psychological construction of fear functions in the context of police harm and how this may differ across racial/ethnic identities as well as the (non)experience of fearful police interactions. Results suggest Likelihood and Severity of Police Harm are related to fear of police harm, but Control of Harm is not. Additionally, the experience of fear did not differ depending on one’s racial/ethnic identity. Results suggest it may be useful to apply general interventions to address fear of police harm within communities which specifically address these perceptions of likelihood and severity of harm. In other words, interventions for those with varying racial/ethnic identities can be made up of the same core tenets (i.e., likelihood and severity perceptions).
Many incarcerated individuals experience harm to their identity as fathers upon entry to prison, and a decrease in their self-esteem. This field research examined changes in fatherhood perceptions and self-esteem among 109 incarcerated fathers across six prisons. Participants were divided into two groups: an intervention group (n = 59) receiving Adlerian parenting training, and a comparison group (n = 50) engaged in alternative educational activities. Each intervention comprised 12 weekly sessions over 3 months. Data was gathered using pre-post questionnaires to measure changes from the beginning to the end of the intervention period. The findings indicate that both research groups experienced increase in perception of fatherhood and self-esteem between the beginning and end of the study (p < .001); however, the improvement observed in the Adlerian group was significantly greater than that in the comparison group. These findings are important, because the perception of fatherhood and parental self-esteem greatly influence the relations between fathers and their children. The findings stress the need for Adlerian groups for parenting training in prison as this may have positive implications for successful familial and social reintegration and may reduce recidivism and intergenerational cycles of incarceration. A parenting program based on the ideas of psychologist Alfred Adler helps incarcerated fathers improve their self-esteem and view of fatherhoodWhen people go to prison, their sense of who they are, especially as parents, can be deeply affected. Many fathers behind bars report feeling disconnected from their role as a dad, and their self-esteem often drops. This study looked at whether participating in a special parenting group could help incarcerated fathers feel more confident in their parenting and better about themselves overall. The study involved 109 fathers in prison. One group of 59 fathers took part in a parenting program based on the ideas of psychologist Alfred Adler, which focuses on respect, encouragement, and responsibility in relationships. This group talked about parenting challenges, shared personal stories, and practiced new ways of relating to their children through games and role-play. The other group of 50 fathers participated in general educational programs unrelated to parenting. Before and after the programs, both groups filled out surveys measuring how they viewed themselves as fathers and how they felt about themselves in general. While both groups showed improvement, the fathers in the Adler-based parenting group improved significantly more than those in the general education group. This research matters because how a father sees himself, as a parent and as a person, can strongly affect his relationship with his children. Positive changes in these areas may help fathers reconnect with their families and prepare for life after prison. Stronger family ties can reduce the chances of returning to prison and may also break negative cycles that affect children and future generations. Offering parenting programs that support fathers emotionally and practically can benefit not only the men themselves, but also their children, families, and the wider community. These findings suggest that using group-based, respectful, and interactive parenting approaches in prisons may be a valuable investment in stronger families and safer societies.
Substance use disorders are highly prevalent among offenders and are closely associated with increased rates of recidivism. This service evaluation assessed the effectiveness of compulsory forensic treatment for offenders with substance abuse in reducing recidivism. The study compared recidivism rates of 279 offenders who received mandated treatment under Section 64 of the German Criminal Code with those of a matched control group of 274 incarcerated individuals. An additional propensity score analysis confirmed the adequacy of the case-to-case matching. Over a mean follow-up of 6.5 years, the absolute risk reduction remained stable at around 16.5%, with recidivism rates at 7 years of 63.4% in the treatment group and 80.3% in the prisoner group. These findings attest to the effectiveness of compulsory addiction treatment in reducing recidivism compared to subjects who only serve a prison sentence, even though a substantial number (48%) of patients had been returned to prison but were still included in the treatment group at follow-up (intention-to-treat-analysis). The practical implications of these findings are discussed in light of recent legislative changes affecting the application of Section 64. The effectiveness of Germany’s court-ordered addiction treatment for offenders: A study comparing reoffending rates in matched groupsMany people who commit crimes are addicted to alcohol or drugs, which increases their chances of committing new crimes after release. This study looked at whether a specific, court-ordered treatment program in Germany can help reduce reoffending. The program is known as Section 64 of the German Criminal Code, and is used to provide mandatory addiction treatment instead of a regular prison sentence. To find out how effective this treatment is, researchers compared two similar groups of offenders: 279 people who took part in the treatment and 274 who served regular prison sentences. The groups were matched closely to make sure they were similar in important ways. A statistical method called propensity score analysis was used to confirm that the matching was appropriate. After an average of 6.3 years, the study found that those who had received treatment were less likely to commit new crimes. About 63% of them reoffended, compared to 80% in the prison group, a stable difference of about 16.5 percentage points. This positive result appeared even though nearly half of the people in the treatment group were sent back to prison during the treatment. These individuals were still included in the analysis. The findings suggest that court-ordered addiction treatment in Germany can help reduce repeat offending. They are also relevant for current discussions about changes in the law affecting how this type of treatment is used.
At a moment of dramatic retreat from refugee resettlement, accompanied by anti-immigrant political discourse that criminalizes migrants, this study examines how Iraqi resettled refugees who came to the United States with Special Immigrant Visa status following the 2003 war in Iraq navigate stigmatizing welfare dependency tropes and narrate their identities. Using the lens of narrative criminology and based on interviews with Iraqi resettled refugees and social service staff, this study asks how resettled Iraqi refugees construct narratives of self and identity in relation to the organizational narratives they encounter at social services offices, and what these narratives reveal about welfare administration as a site of social harm. Findings show that while resettled refugees construct counter-narratives, these are limited in their emancipatory potential and reproduce harmful narratives of welfare. The study contributes to narrative criminology's engagement with welfare settings as sites of social harm. How Iraqi refugees in Michigan navigate welfare, and how the stories of caseworkers and social services staff shape their experiencesIraqi refugee families in the United States require government assistance while undergoing resettlement and search for employment. The families interact with staff at welfare offices and nonprofit organizations who help them with assistance and resettlement. Their experiences of assistance are usually explained as part of their resettlement journey. However, there is more to understand about how these families see themselves specifically as welfare recipients and how stories about welfare told by their caseworkers and case managers affect them. To understand the connections between the way refugees are described in stories about welfare and how refugees see themselves, I interviewed Iraqi refugees, and staff members who worked at an organization helping refugee families in Michigan. I asked Iraqi families about their experiences of resettlement and receiving assistance. I asked the staff about their role in helping refugees with resettlement and assistance. Then, I looked for patterns in what people said about welfare, unemployment, and refugee resettlement. The staff at the organization often described unemployed refugees as lacking motivation or having the wrong attitude about employment. By contrast, refugees described themselves as professional, motivated to find work, and compliant with all welfare requirements. They described the experience of receiving welfare as humiliating and emphasized to me that they were different from other people who abuse welfare. These are important findings that tell us that people experience harm in these places through humiliating interactions that attack their sense of self-worth. Refugees push back against these negative experiences. Yet, they do so in ways that reinforce negative views about other people receiving welfare. Understanding how stories operate in social services offices can help us understand how welfare stereotypes amplify social harm against welfare recipients.
The links between trauma and poorer physical health and psychological well-being in adulthood are now well established. Research shows levels of trauma are especially high amongst those who are incarcerated although evidence on what works to help this group is limited. To examine the effectiveness and acceptability of participation in a new brief, structured group intervention in fostering stabilization through reducing the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and improving mental health in male inmates who have experienced trauma. Participants completed questionnaire measures before and after treatment and provided feedback via semi structured interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed at the group and individual level and qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. At the group level, participants showed a significant improvement in scores for PTSD, anxiety and general mental health. Examination of individual scores showed reliable and clinically meaningful change for some individuals in trauma and mental health symptoms with little change observed for wellbeing and resilience. Participants feedback was generally positive with suggestions for future changes. Engaging in a brief group-based trauma intervention was acceptable to participants and offered significant improvements mental health and PTSD for some incarcerated individuals who have experienced trauma. This intervention may provide a cost effective and resource light approach to phase 1 PTSD treatment ahead of phase 2 treatment. It would be valuable for future research to develop understanding on who the intervention is most effective for. A short group program to help prisoners cope with trauma: findings from a first proof of concept study.People in prison often have a history of trauma, which can lead to serious mental health problems. This pilot study tested a group program which was delivered over 4 sessions. The intervention was designed to help male prisoners who have experienced trauma develop skills to help better manage their mood and trauma symptoms. The study measured overall changes across the group of participants and reviewed each individual to determine what, if any, changes were experienced. Those who participated were also interviewed about their experience of the group. The results showed that the program helped reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress (PTSD) and anxiety for the participant group as a whole. Some individuals reported large improvements, while others had smaller to no changes. No participants reported getting worse as a result of the program. Most participants said they found the program helpful and had ideas for how it could be further improved. This proof of concept study shows that the intervention is worthy of more detailed research and evaluation. Overall, this kind of group support could be a useful and low-cost way to help people in prison start to recover from trauma.
The risk-need-responsivity (RNR) principles of correctional intervention provide guidelines for preventing future offenses, including sexual offenses. Although recidivism rates for sexual offending are generally low, some individuals do reoffend after release from prison. These individuals, often referred to as "sexual recidivists," typically pose a statistically higher recidivism risk and often have complex criminogenic needs. However, despite their extensive experience with the correctional system, little is known about what they believe makes therapeutic interventions motivating, engaging, and effective. The current study qualitatively examined the lived responsivity experiences of 23 incarcerated men in Norway who have recidivated sexually, focusing on their preferences and beliefs about therapeutic interventions. The findings revealed that valuable interventions are characterized by what I summarize as predictability and entirety, delivered by professional facilitators. Overall, the stigma of sexual offending, along with these men's repeated failures to desist, can create responsivity challenges, indicating the need for tailored efforts to support their desistance processes. How people with repeated sexual convictions can be supported in their processes toward positive changeThis paper explores how professionals within the correctional system can better support individuals who have sexually reoffended as they try to change their lives. I interviewed 23 incarcerated men with repeated sexual convictions to learn which kinds of programs, therapy, and support they find motivating and helpful. The participants said they need predictability and long-term commitment from staff. They want help that addresses their whole lives, allowing them to be seen as more than their offending, and they value professionals who help them gain insight and “connect the dots” about why they offended. The stigma associated with sexual offending can make it harder to trust services and professionals, creating barriers to receiving and responding to support. The findings suggest that understanding the unique situations of those who have sexually reoffended is crucial and may necessitate extra efforts from professionals. By attending to these individuals’ needs and preferences, professionals can be more effective in guiding them toward living crime-free lives.
This study examined the relationship between the psychosocial characteristics of juvenile detainees in three different juvenile detention centers in Türkiye and their environmental conditions. Conducted from the perspective of ecological systems theory, the research aimed to evaluate the effects of reciprocal interaction between a juvenile's internal state and their external environment on rehabilitation. Analyses conducted using methods such as one-way ANOVA and multivariate path analysis revealed a strong relationship between psychological well-being and perceived safety and fundamental environmental factors such as structure, freedom, and support. Path analysis showed that a strong perception of structure defined as the clear rules, routines, and predictability of the prison environment is a fundamental factor that influences other perceptions such as privacy, support, and social relationships. The findings also indicate that there is no direct relationship between activity level and well-being, but rather that the quality of rehabilitation activities may be more critical. In conclusion, the study supports the need for a holistic rehabilitation approach in prisons. This approach should carefully balance freedom of movement and structured programs with the individual privacy and social space needs of juvenile detainees. How are Juvenile Prisons in Türkiye Shaping the Lives of Youth?Childhood and adolescence are important periods for the formation of a person’s identity and personality. However, some young people are forced to go through this process behind the closed and restrictive walls of a prison. So, how does this closed environment affect the already fragile psychology of these young people? How do the rules, relationships, and general atmosphere of this environment shape their well-being and their hopes for the future? In this study, we investigated how young people in juvenile detention centers in Türkiye cope with this challenging environment and how different aspects of the prison affect their psychological state. By listening directly to the feelings and experiences of the young people, we aimed to understand how a prison environment could be best organized. Our research found that the prison environment has a much greater impact on young people than we might have thought. Specifically, we discovered that having clear rules and a regular routine within the prison helps young people feel safer and even better able to meet basic needs like privacy. This shows that prisons are not just physical structures, but also dynamic, living ecosystems that shape the psychology of the young people within them. Our findings reveal that focusing solely on individual problems is not enough to help these young people. It is also necessary to improve the environment they are in. This approach can help our juvenile justice system move away from punishment-focused models and create more suitable and supportive environments for the development and social reintegration of youth.
This study investigates the mechanisms of correctional adjustment among male incarcerated individuals in Taiwan, conceptualized across cognitive (criminal attitudes, prisonization) and emotional (depressive symptoms) domains. Data were drawn from 436 inmates across 27 correctional facilities, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the relationships among incarceration-related stressors, locus of control (LOC), and coping strategies. Results show that incarceration-related stressors are strongly associated with maladaptive cognitive patterns and emotional distress. LOC serves as a central mediator, influencing both coping and adjustment outcomes, while coping strategies further mediate the effect of LOC on adjustment. These findings corroborate Western theories while extending them to an East Asian context, highlighting the importance of culturally sensitive models of prison adjustment. The study also provides a historical baseline for evaluating the impact of Taiwan's 2020 correctional reforms and offers insights for future comparative research on inmate well-being and institutional adaptation. Understanding How Stress and Coping Affect Prison Life in Taiwan: What Helps Inmates Adjust and Stay Mentally HealthyThis study explores how men in Taiwan’s prisons deal with stress and adjust to life behind bars. It looks at how personal beliefs and coping behaviors affect inmates’ thoughts and emotions while serving their sentences. The research included 436 male inmates from 27 correctional institutions across Taiwan. The study used a statistical method called structural equation modeling to see how different factors are related. Results showed that prison-related stress, such as strict rules, loss of freedom, and limited family contact, often leads to negative thinking and emotional distress. One key factor found to make a difference was locus of control—the degree to which people believe they can influence what happens to them. Inmates who felt they had some control over their lives tended to use more active and positive coping strategies, which helped reduce emotional problems like depression. These findings help explain why some inmates adjust better than others, even under similar conditions. They also show that programs helping inmates strengthen their coping skills and sense of control may support their well-being and rehabilitation. Finally, although the data were collected in 2005, the study offers an important picture of life in Taiwan’s correctional system before major reforms were introduced in 2020. It can serve as a baseline for future research to see how policy changes have improved or affected inmates’ adjustment and mental health.
This meta-analysis examined the effectiveness of experiential interventions in reducing persistent externalizing behavior among adolescents and adults, and whether integrating cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) components enhances outcomes. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search of ERIC, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Ovid identified 39 studies, yielding 123 effect sizes (N = 2,323). A three-level meta-analytic model with moderator analyses was conducted. Experiential interventions showed a significant medium effect in favor of the interventions compared to control conditions (g = 0.66). Interventions integrating CBT produced larger effects (g = 0.83) than those without CBT (g = 0.43), with the strongest effects for responsive CBT (g = 1.04 vs. g = 0.59). Treatment fidelity and active system involvement significantly moderated outcomes. Findings support integrating CBT within experiential approaches while ensuring high treatment fidelity and system involvement. Clinicians should combine CBT with experiential techniques and engage others to enhance responsiveness and therapeutic safety. How Effective Are Experiential Treatments For Reducing Aggressive and Antisocial Behavior?Some adolescents and adults show persistent problem behavior, such as aggression, breaking rules, criminal behavior, or inappropriate sexual behavior. These behaviors often continue over time and can cause harm to others. They are therefore a major focus in forensic mental health care (treatment for people who have come into contact with the justice system). This study examined whether experiential interventions help reduce this type of behavior. These are treatments in which people learn by doing and experiencing, for example through role-play, mindfulness exercises, imagery, or body-focused activities. The goal is to help them better understand their emotions, thoughts, and behavior, and to respond in more helpful ways. We also examined whether combining these approaches with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—a therapy that focuses on changing thoughts and behavior—leads to better results. We analyzed 39 studies with a total of 2,323 participants. Overall, these interventions led to moderate reductions in problem behavior, such as aggression and rule-breaking. Treatments that combined experiential methods with CBT were more effective than experiential methods alone. The strongest effects were found for CBT approaches that are adapted to the needs and characteristics of the individual (often referred to as “responsive CBT”). Results were also better when the treatment was carried out as intended and when people from the individual’s environment, such as family members or professionals, were involved. In sum, combining experiential techniques with CBT, tailoring treatment to the individual, and involving the social environment may improve treatment outcomes and help reduce reoffending.
This article examines how migrants who traveled the Balkan Route use joint revenge fantasizing to make sense of border violence and reassign criminality to state actors. Based on minimally structured group conversations recorded in Trieste, Italy, it analyzes joint fantasizing as a collective narrative practice rather than an incidental expression of shared frustration. It identifies three mechanism families-symbolic reversal of hierarchies, collective moral tribunal, and contained transgressive catharsis-that show how imagined counter-violence may function as "impossible harm": morally saturated yet structurally blocked from enactment. Revenge fantasies among structurally marginalized groups are conceptualized as harm-related storytelling that exposes and contests state and border violence. Joint revenge fantasizing emerges as a mode of impossible harm through which migrants symbolically reassign criminality to state actors while keeping counter-violence in the imaginative realm. In this way, the article extends narrative criminology beyond its offender-centered, event-focused inheritance by foregrounding imagination, interaction, and lived narrative practices in contexts of border violence. How Migrants on the Balkan Route Imagine Revenge to Make Sense of Border ViolenceThis article looks at how migrants who traveled along the Balkan Route talk together about revenge after experiencing violence at European borders. Based on group conversations recorded in Trieste, Italy, the study shows that these revenge fantasies are not simple jokes or random expressions of anger. Instead, they are a shared way of talking about humiliation, fear, and injustice. The article identifies three main patterns in these conversations. In some cases, migrants imagine turning power relations upside down, so that border guards experience the same fear and suffering they caused. In other cases, they imagine a moral or legal judgment in which state actors are exposed and punished for their actions. In still other cases, dark humor allows them to express rage and frustration without turning these fantasies into real plans. The article argues that these imagined acts of revenge are a form of “impossible harm”: they are emotionally intense and morally meaningful, but they remain blocked from real action by fear, legal insecurity, exhaustion, and dependence on institutions. More broadly, the study shows that people who suffer border violence use storytelling not only to describe harm, but also to challenge official ideas about who is dangerous and who is criminal.
This cross-sectional study assessed Quality of Life (QOL) using the WHOQOL-BREF among 600 prisoners (14% female, 71% in closed regimes) across five large Serbian facilities, aiming to replicate and extend international findings. Four QOL domains and their correlates, gender differences, and the contributions of each domain to overall QOL were examined. Mean scores ranged from 55.48 (environmental) to 67.02 (psychological), with overall QOL averaging below 60. Regression analysis revealed that physical health was the strongest predictor of overall QOL (β = .35), followed by environmental QOL (β = .32), diverging from U.S. data, and that males reported significantly higher QOL than females. While partially replicating earlier data, these findings provide the first detailed QOL profile of Serbian prisoners and reveal context-specific differences in correlates and demographic patterns. These findings fill a major geographical gap, confirm that QOL is profoundly compromised, and underscore the need for environment- and health-oriented prison reforms in Serbia. What Life Is Like in Serbian Prisons: A Study of Health, Safety, and Daily Living Conditions for Men and WomenPeople in prison often live under challenging conditions that can affect their physical and mental well-being. However, very little is known about what everyday life feels like for prisoners in Serbia. This study sought to understand how prisoners in Serbia rate their quality of life and whether men and women have different experiences. We worked with 600 adults held in five major prisons across the country. We asked them about four main areas of their lives: their physical health, their emotional well-being, their relationships with others, and the quality of their living environment. This type of study, conducted at a single point in time, helps show what conditions look like at that time. Overall, prisoners rated their quality of life as low. The weakest area was the living environment. Many people described problems with safety, noise, overcrowding, and access to resources. The strongest area was emotional well-being, although scores were still low compared with those of people living in the community. When we looked at what mattered most for overall well-being, physical health played the most significant role. People who felt healthier also reported better overall quality of life. The living environment was the next most important factor. We also found that men, on average, reported a better quality of life than women, suggesting that women in prison may require additional support. These results are significant because they offer the first detailed picture of daily life for prisoners in Serbia. They show that improving health care, safety, and living conditions should be major priorities. They also highlight the need for gender-sensitive services, as women’s experiences and needs may differ from men’s. The findings can help guide future reforms to create safer, healthier, and more humane prison environments.
Understanding prolonged violent criminality necessitates consideration of a person's cultivated life story, as well as motivations that may not be consciously accessible or explicitly articulated. Crucially, both are shaped within specific sociocultural contexts that impose constraints and provide resources for identity construction. We analyze the life story of "Abdullah," a former child soldier of the Bosnian war (1992-1995) and a chronic violent persister. We examine the manifest text of Abdullah's self-narrative-including the distortions, lies, and hyperbolic statements he uses to construct his identity and justify his crimes-and what we interpret as latent meaning in his omissions and points of contradiction. We show that Abdullah draws from culturally available narratives involving masculinity and heroism, and argue that such narratives are also defenses against his anxiety. This work contributes to scholarship on how broader sociocultural narratives and underlying emotional dynamics sustain chronic violent criminality across the life course. I Will Be a King There’: How Lies and Omissions Support a Violent Criminal IdentityUnderstanding long-term violent criminal behavior requires paying attention to how people make sense of their lives, as well as to motivations they may not fully recognize or openly describe. Both are shaped by sociocultural contexts that shape and constrain identity. We analyze the life story of Abdullah, a former child soldier in the Bosnian war (1992–1995) and a chronic violent offender. We examine the explicit content of Abdullah’s self-narrative–including the distortions, lies, and exaggerations he uses to construct his identity and justify his actions–as well as the meanings suggested by his omissions and contradictions. We show that Abdullah draws on widely available cultural narratives of masculinity and heroism, and argue that these narratives also serve as psychological defenses against anxiety. This study contributes to research on how sociocultural narratives and emotional processes sustain chronic violent offending over the life course.