The aims of this research were to gain a better understanding of dangerous and severe personality disorder (DSPD) from the prisoners' perspective, to explore the expectations and experiences of those engaged in a treatment programme, and to gain an insight into how such individuals perceive their difficulties and the term DSPD. A group of prisoners who met the criteria for DSPD treatment, and who were enrolled at different stages on the Dangerous and Severe Personality Disorder (DSPD) Programme at Her Majesty's Prison (HMP) Whitemoor, were invited to discuss their expectations and experiences of their treatment. This research aimed to generate new theory, grounded in the interview data, and to provide feedback to the DSPD treatment service at HMP Whitemoor. 24 out of a possible 52 prisoners agreed to participate. Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured format. Eight interviews were selected for transcription and detailed analysis using a grounded theory approach. The following five inter-related conceptual themes were generated to explain the data: Difficulties, Expectations, Experience of the DSPD wing (including treatment), Implications of the term DSPD, and Consent.A conceptual model was generated,which suggests a disparity between participants' expectations and the aims of treatment as described by the DSPD programme. It is hypothesised that as service users gain more experience of the treatment programme, their expectations tend to gradually converge with service objectives. Expectations about treatment outcome were generally high, a fact that is discussed in the context of the voluntary status of these participants. Findings also indicated that participants had a theoretical understanding of personality disorder in terms of their own difficulties, and that the term DSPD was associated with confusion and fear of negative connotations. Implications,further directions for research and personal reflections on the research process are also discussed.

This research proved a unique opportunity to observe a cohort of 20 life-sentenced prisoners that had already negotiated an often fragmented and difficult ‘system’. These prisoners were at the Category-C stage of their sentence (medium security) and looking to progress to Category-D (open conditions) and ultimately towards release on license. Unusually, they were attempting to do this at a private prison, HMP Wolds in East Yorkshire - the first private prison to open in Europe in 1992. Due to negotiating a new contract in 2001, it became the first private prison house a group of ‘lifers’ in a dedicated Lifer Unit. The research details how progress was made and how this private prison, staffed with predominantly untrained specialised ‘lifer’ supervisors, coped with this type of prisoner and if the prisoners would progress on time. This qualitative research project examines issues such as conditions, staffing, education, work and programmes, mainly through the eyes of the prisoners but also by way of staff interviews and observation. Although no direct comparison could be made with a similar private prison, as no other private prison held lifers at that time, it is a useful observational study with a degree of longitudinal depth. The prison certainly demonstrated that it could hold lifers in very good conditions, overseen by excellent quality staff and three quarters of the cohort had either progressed on time or were scheduled to progress to open conditions at the time the research concluded. From the Director personally, the staff made every effort to do things correctly, not only providing the minimum requirements, but providing pockets of innovation that could lead to universal improvements in the treatment of prisoners in England and Wales – most notably the decent manner in which prisoners were treated by staff, which leads to a much more relaxed atmosphere, and therefore a quieter prison with few disciplinary issues. Cognitive-behavioural programmes were analysed and the research demonstrated that the whole rehabilitative idea, although well conceived, is poorly administered in practice, with no central coordination. The research questions whether lifers are suited to such programmes and whether they should actually take up much sought-after places on such courses considering their potential distance from release. To bring this narrative account to life, the thesis highlights two prisoners and conducts a detailed ‘case study’ of each; one who negotiated the ‘system’ successfully and another who failed to engage. It follows their time at HMP Wolds and explores their experiences of the prison regime generally, conditions and staff and considers such issues as sentence planning, town visits, programme provision and delivery. These two prisoners commented lucidly on their time in HMP Wolds and although they were generally very positive about their experience, these comparative case studies demonstrate the difficulty in negotiating the prison ‘system’. The standard of treatment in HMP Wolds was found to be high, backed up with external inspection reports, with most lifers making progress on time due to excellent staff diligence. The privatisation debate, morally and practically, is discussed at length and the holding of lifers sees an increase in not only numbers, but responsibility in the private sector. It could be argued that following almost two years studying this private prison; that if private establishments prove to be no worse that the public sector and no more expensive, then surely this is all that can be asked of them. There is concern as to whether the currently over-crowded prison system is working, but private prisons have certainly not added to the problem, indeed privatisation may have improved some aspects and therefore relatively, privatisation can and should be labelled a success.

Samaritans volunteers have been visiting prisons since 1991 to select, train and support prisoners to provide confidential emotional support to other prisoners. Despite its existence for approximately two decades, the Listener scheme has received very little research attention other than a few scattered examples of in-house or small scale reviews (for example Davies, 1994; Richman, 2004; Snow & Biggar, 2006; The Samaritans, 2001a; 2001b). This paucity is also reflected in the current lack of knowledge about peer mentoring and support more widely, despite the significant government attention it has received. This thesis explores and analyses the operation of the Listener peer support scheme in four prisons in England. It investigates how prisoners used (or did not use) Listener support in their patterns of coping and helpseeking in prison, how the Listener scheme was perceived and used by prisoners, Listeners and prison staff, and how Listeners described their experiences of conducting their voluntary work in prison. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were adopted, including a survey of prisoners (n=331), and interviews with prisoners (n=14), Listeners (n=16), and prison staff (n=12). This thesis contends that the prison environment shapes and influences help-seeking by prisoners and the operation of peer support schemes in important ways. It is asserted that helpseeking by prisoners is ‘strategic’, that there is a need to recognise the importance of the factors that drive help-seeking in prison, and the impact this has on the spectrum of helpseeking activity that prisoners exhibit. Furthermore, this thesis examines the dilemmas and contradictions that arise, when prisoners attempt to engage as citizens by volunteering and helping their peers, with whom they share the same pains of imprisonment and experience of subordination.

Á quoi servent les modes d’intervention dispensés en maison d’arrêt ? À occuper les détenus et à alléger la mécanique du temps qui s’immobilise et broie la perception de soi dans cet univers oppressant ? Probablement  oui, mais pas seulement. Source de tensions, de paradoxes, d’ajustements et d’adaptations transactionnelles incessantes, ces entités sont acceptées et reconditionnées en de nouveaux modèles opérants et objectivés. Prenant l’apparence de formes institutionnalisées, représentées ou vécues, ces modes d’intervention s’emparent d’espaces latents de liberté et mettent à jour d’autres systèmes de valeurs et d’autres modèles de culture. Producteurs désenchantés de savoirs et de normes, ces objets ont une dynamique propre, souterraine, de transgression, qui échappe largement au contrôle social de l’administration pénitentiaire. Tout en accompagnant, chemin faisant, le parcours de vie de cinq personnes détenues puis sortantes, de façon singulière, découverte a été faite de processus de transformation, de reconquête de soi faites en tension avec des formes d’éducations plurielles et informelles. À l’aune de savoirs techniques de support, apparaissent des apprentissages transitoires, transgressifs et « kleenex », dont le rôle et les usages oscillent entre fugacité opportuniste et cristallisation conscientisée dans la durée. Ces modes d’intervention auraient alors vocation à appareiller les personnes incarcérées : comme des outils qui aident à survivre dans l’institution, à supporter les conditions de l’enfermement et à s’évader virtuellement pour mieux se donner les moyens de se projeter vers un avenir toujours incertain. / What is the purpose of this support we give to prisoners? To give them something to do, and to lift the weight of time which both stifles and eats away at their self-esteem in such an oppressive environment? Indeed, but there is more. Sources of tension, of paradox, of adjustment and of incessant change, these institutions are accepted but transformed in to new operational models with new objectives. Starting with this institutionalised form, these new types of initiative permit freedom of expression and remind one of value systems and other forms of culture. Although these sessions have the same origins as the knowledge and rules methods which cause so much disillusionment, they have their own dynamic, their own transgression, which is completely new to the prison administration. Accompanying five individuals, initially whilst in prison, and then when released, in a both individual, resulted in a process of transformation, an appreciated of one's self in a new type of informal and multi-faceted education. Alongside the more classical support techniques are appearing less-known apprenticeships, transitory or spot, whose role and uses vary between fleeting opportunism and concrete in the long term. These methods seek to prepare prisoners. These are tools to help them survive in prison, to endure the incarceration and to travel in a virtual manner in order to give themselves the means to look forward to a future which is uncertain but one that is to be built.

A la Maison d’Arrêt de Fresnes, on fait pratiquer le karaté aux détenus. Si les bienfaits du sport en prison sont un principe admis, qu’en est-il des effets pédagogiques de la pratique d'un sport de combat en milieu carcéral ? L’analyse des conduites motrices agressives en karaté, vérifiera si cette pratique apporte une régulation des affects, en comparant 188 observations réalisées en milieu associatif et 77 en détention. Ces observations discriminent l’agressivité licite, sur une échelle de valeurs graduées de -2 à 2 (sur la base d'indicateurs comportementaux objectifs annonciateurs du degré d'agressivité). Bousculant des idées reçues, les résultats révèlent que les karatékas associatifs (KA) sont plus agressifs – sur le plan « praxique » (1,71, écart-type = 0,58) et « kinésique » (1,42, é-t = 0,81) - que les karatékas détenus (KD) – respectivement 0,86, é-t = 1,17 et 0,3, é-t = 1,08. De leur côté, les processus de civilité s’expriment sur des moyennes de -2,00 pour les KA contre -0,81 pour les KD. Le karaté peut-il alors avoir une place en prison comme activité sportive ? La réponse semble affirmative. Sous réserve de processus ré-éducatif global, cette activité ne pouvant cependant garantir par elle-même solutionner le problème de la réinsertion. / At the Detention center of Fresnes, some prisoners go in for karate. If the benefits of sport in prison are an accepted principle, what about educational effects of the practice of a combat sport in prison? The analysis of sports practice aggressiveness in karate will verify if this activity brings a regulation of affects, by comparing 188 observations realized in associative environment and 77 in detention. These observations discriminate licit aggressiveness, on a scale of gradual values from 2 to 2 (on the basis of warning objective behavioral indicators of the degree of aggressiveness). Pushing aside preconceived ideas, the results reveal that the associative karateka (AK) is more aggressive - on the plan "praxique" (1,71, standard deviation = 0,58) and "kinesique" (1,42, s-d = 0,81) - than the prisoner karateka (PK) - respectively 0,86, s-d = 1,17 and 0,3, s-d = 1,08. On their side, the processes of civility express themselves on averages of -2,00 for the AK against -0,81 for the PK. Can the karate then have a place in prison as sports activity? The answer seems affirmative. Subject to global rehabilitation process, this activity can not however guarantee by itself to resolve the problem of the reintegration.

La santé des personnes détenues n’a longtemps pas été une préoccupation de la société. Pendant des siècles, la répression pénale a été dominée par la cruauté des châtiments corporels. Malgré une diminution de la souffrance infligée aux délinquants, le recours à l’emprisonnement comme peine principale de droit commun n’a pas ôté à la peine son caractère afflictif en raison de son influence délétère sur l’état physique et mental des personnes détenues. Mais la santé des personnes détenues est progressivement apparue comme un enjeu de santé publique. L’hygiénisation des établissements pénitentiaires et l’organisation progressive des soins aux personnes détenues ont abouti au transfert de la prise en charge sanitaire des personnes détenues du service public pénitentiaire au service public hospitalier. Cette intégration au système de santé de droit commun vise à garantir à la population détenue une qualité et une continuité de soins équivalentes à celles dont bénéficie la population générale. Initialement privées de droits en matière de santé, les personnes détenues se sont alors vues reconnaître un ensemble de droits conférés à tout patient. Toutefois, si eu égard à la particulière vulnérabilité des personnes détenues, des mesures de protection particulières sont mises en œuvre, il n’en demeure pas moins que l’effectivité des droits des personnes détenues en matière de santé se heurte aux contraintes d’ordre et de sécurité du milieu carcéral. Aussi, pour appuyer la reconnaissance des droits des personnes détenues en matière de santé, des garanties juridictionnelles interviennent pour assurer le respect de ces droits. L’intervention de la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme renforce la garantie de ces droits issue des textes nationaux. La protection influente du juge européen, qui établit des normes nécessaires à la sauvegarde de la santé des personnes détenues et reconnaît un droit au recours effectif, contraint le juge national à se conformer à la jurisprudence européenne. Ainsi, le juge national intervient non seulement pour condamner toute atteinte aux droits des personnes détenues en matière de santé, mais aussi pour ordonner la libération des personnes détenues lorsqu’aucune autre garantie ne permet d’assurer le respect de leurs droits. / Until recently, society has been largely unconcerned with the health of detainees. For centuries, the penal system has been dominated by the brutality of corporal punishment. Despite a decrease in the suffering inflicted on offenders, the use of detention as the main punishment of common law has not removed the afflictive character from the punishment due to its harmful influence on the physical and mental condition of the detainees. However, the health of the detainees has recently emerged as an issue of public health. The sanitation of penal institutions and the progressive organization of care for the detainees have resulted in the transfer of the detainees’ health care from the public penitentiary system to the public hospital system. This integration of the common law health system seeks to guarantee a standard of care to those detainees that is equivalent to the standard of care enjoyed by the general population. Initially deprived of rights regarding health, the detainee was then recognized with rights that were afforded to all patients. However, if given the particular vulnerability of detainees, special protective measures are implemented, the fact remains that the effectiveness of detainees’ rights regarding health comes up against the constraints of order and security in prisons.Moreover, in order to support the recognition of detainees’ rights regarding health, jurisdictional guarantees intervene to ensure the respect of those rights. The intervention of the European Court of Human Rights reinforces the guarantee of those rights taken from national texts. The influential protection of the European Court of Human Rights which establishes the legal standard necessary to safeguard the health of detainees and recognizes the right to an effective remedy, forces the national court to comply with the European case law. Thus, the national court not only intervenes to condemn any infringement of the detainees’ rights in terms of health, but also to order the release of the detainees when no other guarantee allows to assure the respect for their rights

The research into case management was made necessary by the emphasis that the South African prison authorities of today placed on the rehabilitation of offenders. The lack of respect for human dignity, the need to reduce crime in South African prisons and the successful reintegration of offenders into the community are some of the reasons why the research became important. The idea behind introducing case management is to bring back humanity to the offender; to make the offender part of a team which is working towards a mutual goal: to promote the well being of the offender. Topics addressed include the case management process as a sub-system of sentence planning, the role of the correctional officer and the role of the offender and the community in the successful implementation of case management in prisons. The philosophy of case management is also spelled out in the study, covering the implementation of case management within the criminal justice system in Australia, Canada, United States of America, South Africa and the United Kingdom. During any process of incarceration, documentation forms an integral part of the process and in the situation of the case management process, it is just as important. In this study, the researcher discussed those documents that form part of the case file and which play an important role in the successful implementation of case management. The importance of case management in prisons as well as the fact that it can be implemented without the support of the unit management approach cannot be overemphasised. The research contributes largely to scientific knowledge in stressing the importance of sentence planning for each offender within the Criminal Justice System. The case file, which includes the individual sentence plan and the active involvement of the correctional officer and the offender, forms a vital part of the management of the rehabilitation of the offender in today's prison systems. / Penology / D. Litt et Phil.

The research into case management was made necessary by the emphasis that the South African prison authorities of today placed on the rehabilitation of offenders. The lack of respect for human dignity, the need to reduce crime in South African prisons and the successful reintegration of offenders into the community are some of the reasons why the research became important. The idea behind introducing case management is to bring back humanity to the offender; to make the offender part of a team which is working towards a mutual goal: to promote the well being of the offender. Topics addressed include the case management process as a sub-system of sentence planning, the role of the correctional officer and the role of the offender and the community in the successful implementation of case management in prisons. The philosophy of case management is also spelled out in the study, covering the implementation of case management within the criminal justice system in Australia, Canada, United States of America, South Africa and the United Kingdom. During any process of incarceration, documentation forms an integral part of the process and in the situation of the case management process, it is just as important. In this study, the researcher discussed those documents that form part of the case file and which play an important role in the successful implementation of case management. The importance of case management in prisons as well as the fact that it can be implemented without the support of the unit management approach cannot be overemphasised. The research contributes largely to scientific knowledge in stressing the importance of sentence planning for each offender within the Criminal Justice System. The case file, which includes the individual sentence plan and the active involvement of the correctional officer and the offender, forms a vital part of the management of the rehabilitation of the offender in today's prison systems. / Penology / D. Litt et Phil.