TY - JOUR
T1 - Life in a prison‐based therapeutic community: One man's experience
AU - GREENALL, PAUL
PY - 2004/2/1
Y1 - 2004/2/1
N2 - Research suggests that prison‐based therapeutic communities (TCs) have a positive impact on inmates and recidivism. This study sought to establish the benefits of being in a prison‐based TC rather than a normal wing. A semi‐structured interview was conducted with an inmate on the TC at HMP Wymott in Lancashire and then analysed using thematic analysis.Eight themes emerged, suggesting that TCs are a better environment with better interpersonal relationships, have more help available, are safer, are more structured and hierarchical, have groups and group work, are more challenging, provide confrontational assistance and have various incentive schemes. Such factors brought real benefits to the research participant.Research on the efficacy of TCs is considered, as are the implications of this study's findings for the future of prison‐based TCs. Despite the positive findings, they should nonetheless be cautiously applied.
AB - Research suggests that prison‐based therapeutic communities (TCs) have a positive impact on inmates and recidivism. This study sought to establish the benefits of being in a prison‐based TC rather than a normal wing. A semi‐structured interview was conducted with an inmate on the TC at HMP Wymott in Lancashire and then analysed using thematic analysis.Eight themes emerged, suggesting that TCs are a better environment with better interpersonal relationships, have more help available, are safer, are more structured and hierarchical, have groups and group work, are more challenging, provide confrontational assistance and have various incentive schemes. Such factors brought real benefits to the research participant.Research on the efficacy of TCs is considered, as are the implications of this study's findings for the future of prison‐based TCs. Despite the positive findings, they should nonetheless be cautiously applied.
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1108/14636646200400004
DO - https://doi.org/10.1108/14636646200400004
M3 - Article (journal)
SN - 1463-6646
VL - 6
SP - 33
EP - 38
JO - Journal of Forensic Practice
JF - Journal of Forensic Practice
IS - 1
ER -