‘It is successful, and if it is successful, it reduces crime, and it can make the victims happier’: volunteers’ perceptions of working in restorative justice
Rosie Kitson-Boyce, Palwinder Athwal-Kooner The Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.- The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of those volunteering within a restorative justice service thus enabling an insight into their perceptions of the different methods used, their beliefs about restorative justice effectiveness, and its place within the criminal justice system. The study also sought to identify any challenges and positive experiences the participants encountered during their role as volunteers, with volunteering during the COVID-19 pandemic explored specifically.D...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - April 13, 2024 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Rosie Kitson-Boyce Palwinder Athwal-Kooner Source Type: research
An exploration of mock juror experience during the deliberations of a defendant diagnosed with a personality disorder
This study used a qualitative approach to explore mock jurors’ experiences during the deliberations of a fictional defendant, Sarah Priest. Ten participants formed two mock juries, and each mock jury were given two case studies to deliberate. Case study one described Priest as having “Severe Personality Disorder, Borderline Pattern” whereas case study two described Priest as having “Complex Mental Health Problems”. There were no changes to the content of the case studies aside from the change in language used to describe the defendant.An inductive thematic analysis identified two main themes relating to juror exp...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - February 29, 2024 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Sophie Wootton Sophia Tkazky Henriette Bergstr øm Source Type: research
Children and adolescents as perpetrators of stalking: an overview
Ethan Barr, Andrew Newman The Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.- Stalking is considered a public health priority with a range of adverse outcomes. This paper aims to explore existing literature on children and adolescents as perpetrators of stalking, with a focus on rates of stalking and victim and perpetrator characteristics associated with stalking.A review of research where stalking was engaged in by those 18 years old and younger was conducted, where 17 manuscripts met criteria for review.This review found a prevalence of young people engaging in stalking of between 5.3% and ...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - February 14, 2024 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Ethan Barr Andrew Newman Source Type: research
Deception detection based on the linguistic style of honest and dishonest stories
This study aims to describe and analyze the differences in the linguistic styles of honest and dishonest stories.This paper uses a descriptive study with a multivariate analysis of linguistic categories according to the story. The research analyzed 37 honest stories and 15 dishonest stories produced during actual legal proceedings through software Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC).The authors find that individuals who engage in deception use a different number of words when they narrate facts. The results suggest a need for additional investigation of the linguistic style approach because of its high applicability a...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - February 8, 2024 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Juan Camilo Carvajal Builes Idaly Barreto Carolina Guti érrez de Piñeres Source Type: research
First insights into post-pandemic distress in a high secure hospital: correlates among staff and patients
Yara Levtova, Irma Melunovic, Caroline Louise Mead, Jane L. Ireland The Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.- This preliminary investigation aims to examine the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients and staff within a high secure service.To discern the connection between COVID-19-related distress and multiple factors, the study involved 31 patients and 34 staff who completed assessments evaluating coping strategies, resilience, emotional reactivity, ward atmosphere and work-related aspects.Results demonstrated that around a third of staff (31.2%) experienced COVID-...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - February 6, 2024 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Yara Levtova Irma Melunovic Caroline Louise Mead Jane L. Ireland Source Type: research
Animal abuse recidivism: a narrative review
Olivia Reid, Emma Alleyne The Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.- The purpose of this paper is to consolidate and evaluate the available research on animal abuse recidivism.A narrative review of the animal abuse literature was conducted. Articles were included if they provided data/estimates of the rates of recidivism, findings regarding the static, dynamic and/or protective factors associated with animal abuse recidivism and available risk assessment tools, specifically for use with individuals who have a history of animal abuse.The literature review highlighted high rates of reoff...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - November 20, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Olivia Reid Emma Alleyne Source Type: research
Group-based mindfulness interventions in prisons: a selective critical review
This study aims to examine current research regarding the use of MIs within prisons.A total of 14 studies were manually selected for review inclusion according to their determined eligibility. All studies were required to have taken place in a prison and to include an explicit mindfulness intervention, including mindfulness theory and practice.Most interventions reviewed demonstrated success, particularly when tailored to the unique needs of a prison environment. Positive changes reported included improvements in participant mental health symptoms, as well as reduced stress and increased mindfulness skills. Some preliminar...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - November 14, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Madison Fern Harding-White Dara Mojtahedi Jerome Carson Source Type: research
The impact of institutional child abuse: views of professionals
Rebecca Ozanne, Jane L. Ireland, Carol A. Ireland, Abigail Thornton The Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.- The purpose of this study is to build on previous literature in this area thus, the views of professionals working with those who report institutional abuse was sought using a Delphi method.Professionals working with those who report institutional abuse, such as psychologists, social workers and personal injury lawyers, were invited to engage in the Delphi study. Sixteen professionals completed the final round (with four rounds in total). This method was used to gain professio...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - October 23, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Rebecca Ozanne Jane L. Ireland Carol A. Ireland Abigail Thornton Source Type: research
“Their home companion for us to share”; the rehabilitative value of staff bringing their dogs into a UK prison
This study aims to capitalise on an opportunity to explore a visitation model of a prison-based dog programme (PBDP), recently implemented within a UK prison. The intervention requires staff members to volunteer to bring their pets into the prison on a weekly basis and to accompany them as they complete their normal day-to-day prison roles.Data was collected within a Category B adult prison for males convicted of a sexual offence. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with six prisoners who had spent time with the visitation dogs and six staff members who had been part of those interactions. Reflexive thematic analys...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - October 20, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Kirsten Wilson Source Type: research
Suicide concerns among pretrial detainees: validation of the Portuguese version of the SCOPE-2
This study aims to further test the psychometric properties of the Suicide Concerns for Offenders in the Prison Environment (SCOPE-2) in a sample of RP.The authors have carried out a confirmatory factor analysis to test the psychometric qualities of the SCOPE-2. The authors tested the originally proposed two-factor structure composed of two subscales: optimism and protective self-worth. Also, the authors examined internal consistency through Cronbach’s alphas. Convergent validity was tested by correlational analyses between SCOPE-2 subscales and the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised and Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - October 17, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Joana Andrade Hugo Gomes Rui Gon çalves Andreia Castro-Rodrigues Source Type: research
The function of food refusal in male prisons and custodial environments. A rapid evidence assessment (REA)
Jessica Adlam, Gemma Powell The Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.- This rapid evidence assessment (REA) study aims to synthesise what is known about food refusal within male prison populations to aid a better understanding of why this occurs. By looking at the various functions of food refusal for this population, it is hoped that professionals can better support prisoners’ needs in this area.A rapid review of available data within the published literature was completed. Searches were conducted on two databases (PsychInfo and MedLine), and a total of 328 articles were screened us...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - October 12, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Jessica Adlam Gemma Powell Source Type: research
An exploration of staff views of a trauma-informed pathway in a sentenced and remand prison
This study aimed to gather in-depth knowledge of staff views on the components of an optimal trauma pathway in a prison and the organisational factors that influence its implementation.The authors’ research design is qualitative, involving in-depth, semi-structured interviews with eight members of staff from different professional backgrounds at a single prison in the UK that houses sentenced and remand prisoners. Data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.Three super-ordinate themes were identified within the data. Firstly, components of a trauma-informed pathway included sub-themes of asking about what has hap...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - October 11, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Clare Crole-Rees Jack Tomlin Natasha Kalebic Morwenna Collings Neil P. Roberts Andrew Forrester Source Type: research
Exploration of student sex work in the North East of England
This study breaks new ground by providing novel insights into an understudied research area – the prevalence of student sex work in North East England. The findings lay the foundation for future research and can inform policies and support systems to improve the safety and well-being of student sex workers. Furthermore, the study contributes to broader discussions on gender, sexuality and sex work in academic settings. (Source: Journal of Forensic Practice)
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - September 27, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Mollie Haskins Tinisha Osu Michelle Carr Source Type: research
A pedagogic evaluation comparing face to face and online formats of a multi-professional offender personality disorder (OPD) higher education training programme
Gary Lamph, Alison Elliott, Sue Wheatcroft, Gillian Rayner, Kathryn Gardner, Michael Haslam, Emma Jones, Mick McKeown, Jane Gibbon, Nicola Graham-Kevan, Karen Wright The Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.- The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of a novel offender personality disorder (OPD) higher education programme and the research evaluation results collected over a three-year period. Data from Phase 1 was collected from a face-to-face mode of delivery, and Phase 2 data collected from the same programme was from an online mode of delivery because of the COVID-19 pandemic...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - September 26, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Gary Lamph Alison Elliott Sue Wheatcroft Gillian Rayner Kathryn Gardner Michael Haslam Emma Jones Mick McKeown Jane Gibbon Nicola Graham-Kevan Karen Wright Source Type: research
HKT-R Spider reference profiles. A guideline for fact-based decision-making regarding a forensic patients leave
Paul Ter Horst, Marinus Spreen, Stefan Bogaerts The Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.- This paper aims to illustrate by means of a case study how HKT-R Spider reference profiles of recidivists and non-recidivists may be supportive in leave decisions.The authors describe what is known for recidivists and non-recidivists about changes in risk factors during treatment. The HKT-R Spider is introduced. By comparing a case study to group profiles, the authors illustrate how discussions about leave may be rationalised. From a study among 278 patients to explore the profiles, the authors r...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - August 14, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Paul Ter Horst Marinus Spreen Stefan Bogaerts Source Type: research
