Social climate and hope amongst staff and prisoners in a high security male prison
This study aims to measure staff and prisoner ratings of social climate and their levels of hope in such an establishment.
The research adopted a quantitative approach, using the EssenCES and State Hope Scale. Data was analysed using parametric and non-parametric tests to explore correlations/relationships between variables.
Findings indicated that higher ratings of social climate were associated with higher levels of hope. Staff rated the social climate more favourably than prisoners, and Category B prisoners had higher levels of hope than Category A prisoners. No significant correlation was found between length...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - January 14, 2021 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Sarah Gibson Source Type: research
Examining the relationship between neuropsychological functioning assessed during admission to a high secure psychiatric care hospital and vulnerability to long-term segregation
This study quantitatively examined the neuropsychological profiles of 80 male HSPC patients as assessed during routine admission assessments, comparing data against any subsequent LTS duration during a one-year period, and a non-LTS control (n = 27).
Analysis found individuals who were willing and able to complete a routine neuropsychological admissions assessment spent significantly less time in LTS than those unable to complete the assessment. Performance within a test of novel problem solving (Key Search Test) was significantly worse in the LTS group than controls. Performance within a visual memory task (Immediate...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - December 21, 2020 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Ishbel McMichael Olivia Tiley Josephine Broyd David Murphy Source Type: research
Listening to women: relational approaches to female offender management
Aisling O’Meara, Meinir Edwards, Jason Davies
The Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. 23, No. 1, pp.1-12
The purpose of this paper is to explore women’s experiences of criminal justice systems to inform the development of guidance on working with women.
A two-part, independent samples and qualitative study using semi-structured interviews incorporating both interpretive phenomenological analysis and thematic analysis was conducted. In Study 1, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six women on probation in the community and data were analysed using interpretative phenomenologic...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - November 30, 2020 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Aisling O ’Meara Meinir Edwards Jason Davies Source Type: research
A multi-site survey of forensic nursing assessment
The Journal of Forensic Practice,Volume 21, Issue 2, Page 124-138, May 2019. Purpose A major difficulty identified many years ago in psychiatric care is the shortage of appropriate instruments with which to carry out valid and reliable therapeutic assessments which are behaviourally based and therefore appropriate for use in a variety of contexts. The aim of this project was to ascertain the utility of a forensic nursing risk assessment tool - Behavioural Status Index (BEST-Index). The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach A multi-site cross-sectional survey was undertaken using mixed method des...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - May 21, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
Evaluation of a transition intervention in a secure setting
This study used a repeated design to explore the effectiveness of a person-centred intervention with 18 transitioning individuals in a medium-secure hospital. Three self-report questionnaires were used to capture data relating to anxiety, coping strategies and how individuals feel about the transition pre- and post-intervention. Whole data sets were achieved in 16 cases. Findings Following the transition intervention, individuals felt more at ease with the transition ahead of them, their use of adaptive coping strategies had significantly increased and their trait anxiety had significantly lowered. Research limitations/i...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - May 15, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
Sexual health principles and the procurement of sexual services: evidence of the interface between sexual health and criminal justice
This study is unique as it brings together principles of sexual health as a tool for examining the procurement of sexual se rvices, a practice that is demonised in many parts of the globe. A consequence of this study is its presentation of a novel understanding for the social practice of procurement that aides in both challenging the stigmatisation and criminalisation of sex work. (Source: Journal of Forensic Practice)
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - May 15, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
A quantitative analysis of attitudes toward pornography use in secure hospitals: sexual, violent and non-offenders
The Journal of Forensic Practice, Ahead of Print. Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the attitudes of staff members in secure hospitals and the general population towards pornography use and their decision-making regarding access to pornography. Design/methodology/approach A between participants design was used whereby 324 participants, including 162 staff members and 162 people of general population, answered an online questionnaire. Vignettes were presented of six hypothetical patients in a secure hospital, based on gender (male/female) and offence type (sexual/violent/non-offender). Participants were ...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - April 9, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
“I’m not different, I’m still a human being […] but I am different.” An exploration of the experiences of transgender prisoners using interpretative phenomenological analysis
The Journal of Forensic Practice, Ahead of Print. Purpose The treatment and placement of transgender individuals within the UK prison system has garnered considerable political and media attention. The purpose of this paper is to present an analysis of the experiences of three transgender women located within a male, category C prison in England. Design/methodology/approach Participants were interviewed and their accounts analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings Three overarching themes emerged from the data set: participants ’ experiences of transition; their identity within custody and the c...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - April 9, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
Exploring factors affecting attitudes towards rape survivors: the role of sexuality and religiosity
This study indicates: (1) the effect of social correlates other than gender on rape myths; (2) the effect sexuality has on the perception of rape myths; and (3) the effect religiosity has on the perception of rape myths. This study also reveals implications for the reporting, prosecution and conviction of rape cases that may be subject to bias and discrimination due to victim characteristics other than gender. Originality/value Attitudes towards rape survivors based on social correlates other than gender have received little attention within existing literature and research. This paper adds to this discussion by consideri...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - April 9, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
Applicability of the DUNDRUM-1 in a forensic Belgium setting
The Journal of Forensic Practice,Volume 21, Issue 1, Page 85-94, January 2019. Purpose Criteria to determine in which level of security forensic patients should receive treatment are currently non-existent in Belgium. Research regarding the assessment of security level is minimal and few instruments are available. The DUNDRUM toolkit is a structured clinical judgement instrument that can be used to provide support when determining security level. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the applicability and validity of the DUNDRUM-1 in Flanders. Design/methodology/approach The DUNDRUM-1 was scored for 50 male patient...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - March 12, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
Victimisation and addictive careers amongst women in Malta
The Journal of Forensic Practice,Volume 21, Issue 1, Page 71-84, January 2019. Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a theoretical analysis of the pathways of female addicts within the Maltese context by highlighting the complex interrelatedness between substance abuse and victimisation. This paper proposes that female addiction and victimisation trajectories unfold in a non-linear fashion, heavily influenced by particular socio-psychological processes. Design/methodology/approach Guided by a career approach conceptual framework, this study was carried out through an in-depth exploration of the victimisation an...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - March 12, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
Service evaluation of the need for care and clinical risk management procedures using the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale (HoNOS) secure
The Journal of Forensic Practice,Volume 21, Issue 1, Page 61-70, January 2019. Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore whether the current forensic mental health inpatient population within a medium secure unit is more or less complex (i.e. clinical and risk presentations) than former years using the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale (HoNOS) secure. Additionally, the use of the HoNOS secure as a service-wide measure is discussed in terms of its usefulness. Clinical implications and recommendations are offered for the continued use of the HoNOS secure in services more widely. Design/methodology/approach A retrosp...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - March 12, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
Integrated substance use rehabilitation in a secure forensic facility
The Journal of Forensic Practice,Volume 21, Issue 1, Page 50-60, January 2019. Purpose The purpose of this paper is to inform the development of an evidence-based and effective rehabilitation programme to address substance use disorders in a population of patients with severe mental illness and mental disorders detained in a secure forensic psychiatric facility. A clinical review identified a high prevalence of substance use disorders in the patient population at a secure forensic facility in Sydney, Australia with only a limited number of patients being assessed and offered interventions for substance use problems. Desi...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - March 12, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
An exploration of MDT views on key factors to consider when determining a service users required level of security
The Journal of Forensic Practice, Ahead of Print. Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify what key factors multi-disciplinary teams (MDT) deem as most important when making the decision to move service users from one level of security (including low, medium and high secure services) to another. The researchers used the findings from this study to further develop a tool; the assessment for level of security tool (ALS), which aims to structure and streamline this decision-making process. Design/methodology/approach Data from 18 interviews (MDT staff) were analysed using the Delphi technique (Dalkey and Helmer, 196...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - February 20, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
Making sense of being recalled: a grounded theory
The Journal of Forensic Practice, Ahead of Print. Purpose A high proportion of forensic mental health service users (FSUs) are recalled to secure hospitals from conditional discharge in the community. The limited research on recall to date has preliminarily identified why FSUs are recalled, but not how they make sense of the process. The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual understanding of how FSUs make sense of being recalled to hospital. Design/methodology/approach A constructivist grounded theory approach was used. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 11 FSUs from different levels of forensic ...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - February 20, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
