6 research outputs found
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Using a prisoner advisory group to develop diversity research in a maximum-security prison: A means of enhancing prisoner participation
YesThis paper addresses groupwork processes with a group of prisoners advising
a research project in a maximum-security prison in England. The research project
(Appreciative Inquiry into the Diversity Strategy of HMP Wakefield. RES-000-22-3441)
was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and lasted 9 months.
The research explored the experiences of prisoners in diverse minority groupings and the
strategies of the prison to accommodate the complex needs of these groups. The Prisoner
Advisory Group (PAG) was made up of representatives from Black and Minority Ethnic
(BME) prisoners; older prisoners (over 60s); Disabled prisoners (with physical disabilities,
learning difficulties; and mental health problems); Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender
prisoners; and prisoners affiliated to Faith groups. It met regularly during the research.
The paper considers the forming norming and performing aspects of establishing an
effective participant voice in a prison-based project. It considers the contribution of the
PAG to developing a research strategy that engaged prisoners in the research. It reflects
on the nature of ‘participative research’ in general and whether such research is possible
within a high-security prison environment
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Constructive Work with male sex offenders:male forms of life, language, games and change.
NoAcknowledgements. Contributors. Prologue, Jeremy Cameron. 1. Constructive Work with `Offenders': Setting the Scene, Kevin Gorman, Patrick O'Byrne and Nigel Parton. 2. Collaborative and Constructive Frontline Practice with Offenders in a Climate of `Tough Love' and `Third Way' Politics, Bill Jordan. 3. The Offender as Citizen: Socially Inclusive Strategies for Working with Offenders Within the Community, Marilyn Gregory. 4. Constructing Safety: A Collaborative Approach to Managing Risk and Building Responsibility, Michelle Hayles. 5. The Constructive Use of Courtroom Skills and Enforcement to Achieve Client Co-operation and Change, Geoff Kenure. 6. Constructing a Convincing Narrative: The Art of Persuasive Storytelling within the Tight Constraints of Formal Pre-sentence Assessments for the Criminal Courts, Kevin Gorman. 7. Dangerous Constructions: Black Offenders in the Criminal Justice System, Lena Dominelli. 8. Constructive Work with Women Offenders - A Probation in Prison Perspective, Sue Carless. 9. Constructive Work with Male Sex Offenders: Male Forms of Life, Language Games and Change, Malcolm Cowburn. 10. Dispensing With Justice: Young People's Views of the Criminal Justice System, Monica Barry. 11. Offenders `R' Us, Marilyn Gregory with Kevin Gorman, Michelle Hayles and Nigel Parton. Epilogue, Jeremy Cameron. Inde
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Safe recruitment, social justice, and ethical practice: should people who have criminal convictions be allowed to train as social workers?
NoDecision making in relation to admitting people to train as social workers is, either explicitly or implicitly, an ethical activity. This paper considers ethical and practical issues related to the processing of applicants to social work training in England who have criminal convictions. These issues are explored by focusing on policies that strengthen regulations that exclude ex-offenders from working with children and vulnerable adults. The admissions processes for social work education are analysed in terms of how they contribute to, or counteract, processes of social exclusion. The advice and guidance from the General Social Care Council of England (GSCC) is summarised and analysed. A case study of a social work education partnership grounds the ethical discussion by illustrating the complexities of engaging with combating social exclusion whilst seeking to ensure that the public is protected
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Black and Ethnic Minority Sex Offenders
In the past ten years or so there has been a growing concern that the treatment needs of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) sex offenders in prison are not being appropriately met. Underpinning this concern is the continued under representation of BME sex offenders on the Sex Offender Treatment Programme (SOTP). Although some research has been undertaken into how BME prisoners experience the SOTP and in to its ostensible effectiveness with BME sex offenders, little is known about why the take-up of the SOTP is poor with this group. In this paper we first consider some specific demographic issues that need to be understood in order to reflect more widely on the BME sex offender in prison. We then summarise what is currently known about effective practice with this group, thereafter we consider, in turn, current provision for BME sex offenders in England and Wales and suggestions for developing practice with this group of men.
However, before we turn to these issues, it is important to consider briefly issues of terminology. Terminologies in relation to ethnicities and race are fraught with conceptual difficulties. Aspinall has highlighted the limitations of `pan-ethnic¿ groups, such as `BME¿; such groupings are `statistical collectivities¿ and `the groups thus defined will be nothing more than meaningless statistical collectivities that do not represent any of the constituent groups within the term.¿ . However, at the outset of this paper we use the collective term BME - this term is currently used by a number of Government Departments in the UK, including the Prison Service. Later we suggest that a more sophisticated understanding of ethnic cultures may be necessary to develop practice with BME sex offenders