Our first article by Dr Oscar O’Mara, Dr Maria Cristina Rodriguez Rivero, Professor Stuart Dalziel, and Professor Tim Sharpe, discusses the importance of air quality and ventilation in prisons. The authors argue that air quality is an important issue that has been rarely explored in prisons. They draw attention to the relationship between air quality, health outcomes, and behaviour, and make a number of recommendations regarding means of addressing these issues.
Next, we have an article by Mark Jones which reflects on the experiences, and impact, of those involved in Creative Roots, an arts project in HMP/YOI Parc. Mark discusses the experiences of those involved in the project utilising the CHIME (Connected, Hope, Identity, Meaning, and Empowerment) recovery model. Those involved in the project described a range of positive outcomes, including improved wellbeing, connection, and hope.
We then have an article by Reza Barmaki who presents a trauma-informed explanation of the failure of a Canadian rehabilitative programme (‘Pathways Initiatives’) designed for incarcerated indigenous people with addiction issues. Reza suggests that failing to consider the intergenerational trauma of indigenous people in Canada as part of this programme has limited its effectiveness.
Our final article in this edition is from Charlotte O’Brien and Guy T. They present findings from a study which explored the challenges, and coping mechanisms, of those serving a life sentence in the open prison estate. The paper also explores current interventions designed to support transitions and reintegration into the community, and offers a number of reflections on how to enhance practice.
We are pleased to then have two interviews in this general edition. The first is with Helen Judge, Area Executive Director for the North East England, who is interviewed by Dr Ruth Armstrong. Helen reflects on her career to date, her hopes and priorities, and how she is prioritising supporting staff to get back to the fundamental work that makes a positive difference in people’s lives. We then have an interview with Martin Jones CBE, Chief Inspector of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation, who is interviewed by Professor Lynn Saunders. In this interview, Martin reflects on the role of the inspectorate to support improvement and raise standards. He also acknowledges the consistent challenges identified across Probation in relation to excessive workloads and staffing difficulties, and how the complexity of the work undertaken by the service is not always recognised.
Finally, we have three book reviews. The first is a review of the book Sound, Order and Survival in Prison written by Kate Herrity and reviewed by Dr. Jamie Bennett. The book is based on fieldwork undertaken within one prison where listening is used to explore and understand the social world. Jamie concludes that this is an innovative and insightful book, and one which leads him to consider some of the practical implications of Herrity’s findings in his review. Our second review is by Hannah Bennett of the book, Islam in Prison: Finding Faith, Freedom, and Fraternity written by Lamia Irfan, Mallory Schneuwly Purdie, Muzammil Quraishi and Matthew Wilkinson. The book is based on a large international study of Islam in prison and is described by Hannah as offering a ‘refreshing departure’ from the usual narrative around radicalisation of people in prison. Finally, we have a review of Star Men in English Convict Prisons, 1879-1948, written by Ben Bethell and reviewed by Joe Hale. Star men were a group of prisoners identified by authorities as being ‘gentleman convicts’, with no previous convictions. Concerns over a ‘contamination’ effect of being located with those who had repeatedly offended meant that this different ‘class’ of prisoner were located separately and regimes (including employment) were less physically demanding. Joe described the book as being well-researched and an essential read for anyone interested in the history of prisons and the treatment of prisoners in England and Wales.
