Social capital and prison officers

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Fabio on April 11, 2012 at 23:08

Hi Dominic, 

I've been doing some research tonight on other stuff (I'm looking at the seven pathways and the effects on resettlement). I really hope there is something out there. I have the general feeling that they're a bit forgotten in favour of the offender managers and probation officers.. I reckon they all play an important part though. 

While waiting for someone to hopefully throw here some references, can I ask you what your research is about and how does it relate to social capital? 

Thank you, 

Fabio 

Permalink Reply by Linda Asquith on April 12, 2012 at 8:52

Hi Dominic,

Interesting question, and I can't help you with the answer, but I am interested to know in what way you are looking at social capital. If you do find anything, please let us know here!

Permalink Reply by Dominic Kelly on April 12, 2012 at 9:04

Hey Fabio

Yeah, prison officers tend to be left behind. I'm looking at the impact of organisational reform on prison staff. Specifically, I'm using Bourdieu's theory to frame how dramatic changes (such as staffing levels, aims and objectives, responsibilities) influence and are influenced by the staff and the implications of this. Specifically I will focus on the social capital of the staff (their networks, social norms...) and how they perceive this is changing.

Yours sounds interesting, what are the "seven pathways"?

Dom

Permalink Reply by Fabio on April 12, 2012 at 16:33

Hi Dominic, 

That sounds like a brilliant theme. Just today I had a chat with a prisoner who was complaining about the different levels of commitment of staff towards them, just saying some PCOs are able to do lots of work while on the other side others just sit and do "nothing". It is something that affects as the number of people per wing is reduced and one person finds themselves to do the work of 2-3 persons at the same time. (and it's in every department. Mainly it's due to the increase in number of prisoners.. consider in resettlement something like 4-5 years ago they used to have between 20 and 40 new prisoners getting into prison while now the numbers have reached 3 figures and getting towards the 200s - at least according to rumours, even if there are actual internatl statistics to check that. This results in a lower time staff can dedicate to prisoners as from one side there's more people to look after and on the other the "paperwork" is more and obviously takes time from one-to-one interactions). 

Probably it's not exactly what you're looking for but it might direct you somewhere. Have you ever read about the work of Ben Crewe? 

here's his webpage and the list of his work: http://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/people/academic_research/ben_crewe/

About the seven pathways: it is a guidance that the MoJ has given to the organisations working in the resettlement of prisoners. 

The seven pathways: 

1. Accommodation;
2. Education, employment and training;
3. Health;
4. Drugs and alcohol;
5. Finance, debt and benefit;
6. Children and families;
7. Attitudes, thinking and behaviour.

It is a way for agencies (and especially prisons) to carefully look after prisoners by making sure they assess prisoners' needs about those paths and identify their needs (the assumption is that by "answering" prisoners' needs in those areas, the likelihood of reoffending is lowered. (Home Office, 2004 and Ministry of Justice, 2010 - I believe it's the March Bulletin) 

I hope that helps!

Fabio

Permalink Reply by Harry Mennie on April 12, 2012 at 22:42

Fabio, The seven pathways you describe relate really closely to the nine offender outcomes enshrined in the Management of Offendrs Act and used by prisons in their integrated case management system here in Scotland.

The Community Justice Authorities set up through this legislation are charged with lowering offending rates  working with prisons and other stautory and voluntary agencies.

 

Harry

Permalink Reply by Dominic Kelly on April 13, 2012 at 9:22

Thanks Fabio

Your work sounds very interesting. Yes I know Ben quite well, although I haven't e-mailed him about this issue yet. Either way I can safely assume there is at least minimal research done in this area.

Keep me informed on your progress

 

Dom

Permalink Reply by Fabio on April 13, 2012 at 16:45

Hi Dominic,  

thanks to you! Let me know how it goes. It might be worth giving it a try and write him? 

I'll let you know if there's anything coming up from my research soon and please do let me know how you get on!

all the best, 

Fabio