Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an important health concern in prison populations as they have an increased risk of the disease compared to the general population. However, there is a lack of interventions to reduce prisoners’ cardiovascular risk, and little is known about the knowledge and risk perceptions of the disease in prison. This study aims to explore the knowledge and risk perceptions of CVD from the perspectives of prisoners and staff to guide the development of a cardiovascular risk reduction intervention for prisoners. Methods: This was a qualitative, exploratory study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 prisoners and 11 staff, who were purposively recruited from a private prison in Scotland. Framework analysis was used to analyse the data. Findings: The prisoners and staff had limited, non-expert knowledge of CVD. Common behavioural risk factors and cardiovascular events were identified, but gaps in knowledge were evidenced. There were similarities and differences in perceptions of prisoners’ risk of the disease; risk was primarily assessed by judgements about the prisoners’ current health status rather than their risk factor status. Prisoners’ risk of CVD was attributed to negative health behaviours such as smoking and physical inactivity, and these were influenced by multiple factors that interacted across three levels of influence. Individual factors included self-efficacy and mental health problems, social factors included the prison culture and social interactions, and institutional factors included the prison regime and healthcare barriers. An ecological framework was designed to guide a cardiovascular risk reduction intervention that focuses on the multi-level influences of prisoners’ cardiovascular risk. Conclusion: Prisoners have limited knowledge and misconceptions of CVD, and engage in several risky behaviours. There are multi-level influences on prisoners’ CVD risk and cardiovascular health. An ecological approach is recommended to address these influences to reduce the prisoners’ risk of CVD.

An effort to investigate the quality of services at community correction facilities from the perspective of both inmates and staff led to the proposition of four hypotheses. These hypotheses were formulated to show the relationship between key independent variables, such a facility type, time at facility, age, ethnicity, educational level, and dependent (outcome) variables, which included inmate's and staff's views of privacy, safety, rules and regulations, and crowding at these respective facilities.

This is a qualitative research project conducted on children in institutional care who have incarcerated parent(s) in China with the purpose of exploring the subjective living experiences and self-identity of these children. A homogeneous sample of seventeen children in institutional care who have incarcerated parents, a sample of seven institutional staff, three school teachers, and four family members who were these children’s previous caregivers, were included according to purposive sampling procedures. This study employed narrative analysis as the method used to analyze the data collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews. / With the assumption that identity formation is a process of social construction, the study proposes a theoretical framework consisting of Chinese social and cultural contexts, the family, the societal context, and the children’s subjective experience and identity. This comes after a comprehensive review of the literature on empirical services, polices, and research on children with incarnated parents, theories concerning identity and identity development, and the dominant ideologies about incarceration in the Chinese context. / This study finds that parental incarceration eventually changes these children’s lives so that they suffer helplessness, abandonment and uncertainty. Grateful feelings emerge when they enter a charitable institution that provides them with a relatively stable and secure living environment. There children are referred to or refer to themselves as “children of the institution”. This public label covers their status as inferior, as service recipients of an institution, and the misunderstood status of “orphan. These children develop paradoxical feelings towards these different labels and their self-identity is actually incarcerated in the parent-child relationship along with the incarcerated parents. The internalized ignominy of being children of incarcerated parents further enhances their feeling of inferiority as service recipients of an institution. / To understand the self-identity of these institutionally reared children with incarcerated parents (CIP), as well as its formation process in the Chinese socio-cultural context, the study develops a model that includes elements such as the Chinese moral censure of criminals, familial belief, and the individual-familial responsibility and the concept of “Bao”. These three ideas not only directly impact these children’s self-identity, but also comprise the basis for discourses in the three sub-contexts in which these children derive their living experiences and develop their self-identities. These socio-cultural beliefs are generally held by actors in various situations, and cultural messages are conveyed to these children by those actors through interaction with the children, and these cultural messages shaped the children’s’ subjective experiences and identities. / Based on the findings of this research, the researcher proposes suggestions for social works services for children with incarcerated parents from both micro and macro perspectives, and suggests directions for future research. / 置身中國社會文化語境、以建構主義為理論嚮導，本是一項探索機構照料的服刑人員子女的主觀生活經驗和身份認同及其形成過程為目敘事研究。通對以往服刑人員子女相關務與研究、身份認同理論以及中國社會於"服刑"的敘說進行較為全面回顧與梳理，研究者提出一個囊括中國文化、家庭、社會語境、機構環境及服刑人員子女主觀經驗的互動過程框架用以指導研究。該研究採用目的抽樣，從中國大陸某專門資助、代養服刑人員未成年子女的民間慈善機構選取符合條件的17名服刑人員子女 、7名機構工作人員 、3名學校老師和4名兒童親屬。 通過半結構化的深入訪談收集資料，使用 Nvivo 軟件對訪談資料進行細緻編碼，最後總結顯著主題并撰寫報告。 / 該研究發現，父母服刑給其子女帶來諸多負面後果。被訪兒童在父母服刑后都經歷生活困難、無助與被拋棄，由此產不安全感。入住該機構，他們遇上相對穩定全的生活，也自賦或被予一個“公共身份” —— 機構的孩子。對這一身份他們有著複雜而糾結的情感，一方面這身份昭示其作為服務受助者低人一等并隱含被誤解為“孤兒”的尷尬；另一方面，這公共身份也像個保護傘，使其"服刑人員子女”這一身份在某種程度上得以掩蓋。他們都強烈感知并內化作為服刑子女的羞恥以及作為服務受助者的低人一等。從此意義而言，他們自我被禁錮其中。 / 文章最後得出包含社會化因素、主流言論、家庭、機構以及服刑人員子女等因素的多方互動模型用以呈現和解釋他們主觀生活經驗與自我身份認同及其形成過程。中國社會三個主要觀點 —— 對罪犯的道德譴責、家庭主義和個人、家庭主義和個人 -家庭負責的福利理念、報 —— 相互作用，共同造就社會主流論述對服刑人員子女的歧視、 家庭成員的羞恥感以及機構中對於恩回報期待；進而，服刑人子女通過與這三個系統中的人進行互動，也感知和內化對他們負面看法，形塑主觀經驗和身份認同。 / 基於這些發現，本文在最後就服刑人員子女社會服務改善提出建議，認為微觀層面，機構應該改變服務理念；而在宏觀層面，政府應該介入，且整個社會文化的導向也應該有所調整。本文最后指出未來研究的可能方向。 / Xia, Lili. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 269-296). / Abstracts and appendixes also in Chinese. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on 20, December, 2016). / Xia, Lili. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only.

This study found that the adjudicated juvenile offender population may have insight into barriers and obstacles that will impede their reintegration into society. If these issues were recognized and addressed, juvenile offenders could have a better experience as parolees when they were released.

Abstract in English, Zulu and Xhosa / The study’s intent is to explore challenges experienced by incarcerated mothers relating to childcare, based at the Durban Westville Correctional Centre. The theoretic framework of this study encompasses the Relational Theory, the Gendered Pathways Theory, and the General Strain Theory. This research utilises the qualitative research technique. Semi-structured, open-ended interviewing was concluded with 15 incarcerated mothers based at the Durban Westville Correctional Centre using the probability sampling technique.The relationship between a mother and her children is of paramount importance, even for incarcerated mothers. However, incarcerated mothers are unable to tend to their childcare responsibilities due to their physical and emotional limitations presented by incarceration. Incarcerated mothers in this study expressed their challenges experienced and their need for rehabilitation programmes to help them mitigate their childcare challenges. The research reveals that some of the incarcerated mothers have experienced traumatic backgrounds inclusive of emotional strains, financial impediments, verbal abuse, physical abuse and sexual abuse prior to their incarceration. Their challenges exacerbate whilst incarcerated and literature referred to denotes that their challenges continue post-release. Rehabilitation and reintegration of the offender have become the primary focus for the Department of Correctional Services seeing that its scope of service has shifted from a system of “control” to that of rehabilitation. The study indicates gaps in the rehabilitation programmes offered by the Department. Further, the study intends to make recommendations to the Department of Correctional Services on implementing rehabilitation programmes that aid and support a healthy mother and child bond. Such programmes would assist by enlightening, educating and encouraging incarcerated mothers to tighten and protect unions with their children and for the Department to offer special visitation programmes that aid such a process / Inhloso yalolu cwaningo ukuhlola izinselele ezitholwa omama ababoshiwe ngokuphathelene nokunakekelwa kwezingane, esekelwe eThekwini West Correctional Centre. Uhlaka lwama-theoretic walolu cwaningo luhlanganisa i-Theory Theory, i-Gendered Pathways Theory, ne-General Strain Theory. Lolu cwaningo lusebenzisa indlela yokucwaninga yekhwalithi. Izingxoxo ezinemihlangano evulekile, evuliwe ziphelile nabomama abangu-15 ababoshiwe base-Durban Westville Correctional Centre basebenzisa inqubo yokwenza isampula. Ubuhlobo phakathi komama nezingane zakhe bubaluleke kakhulu, ngisho nakumama ababoshiwe. Kodwa-ke, omama ababoshiwe abakwazi ukuthambekela emithwalweni yabo yokunakekelwa kwengane ngenxa yokwehluleka kwabo ngokomzimba nangokomzwelo okuvezwe ukuboshwa. Owesifazane abangenalutho kulolu cwaningo babonisa izinselele zabo abahlangabezana nazo kanye nesidingo sabo sokuvuselela izinhlelo zokusiza ekunciphiseni izinselelo zabo zokunakekela izingane. Ucwaningo lwembula ukuthi abanye omama ababoshiwe baye babhekana nezizinda ezibuhlungu ezihlanganisa izinkinga zomzwelo, izithiyo zemali, ukuhlukunyezwa ngamazwi, ukuxhashazwa ngokomzimba nokuhlukunyezwa ngokocansi ngaphambi kokuboshwa kwabo. Izinselelo zabo zikhungatheka kanti iziboshwa ezibhekiswe kuzo zikhomba ukuthi izinselele zabo ziqhubeka nokukhululwa. Ukuvuselelwa nokubuyiselwa kabusha kwalowo owenze iphutha kuye kwaba yiyona ndlela eyinhloko eMnyangweni Wezokwelulekwa Kwezempilo ngokubona ukuthi izinga labo lensizakalo lishintshile ohlelweni "lokulawula" kulokho lokuvuselelwa. Ucwaningo lubonisa izikhala ezinhlelweni zokuvuselela ezinikezwe uMnyango. Ngaphezu kwalokho, lolu cwaningo luhlose ukwenza izincomo eMnyangweni Wezokwelulekwa Kwezokuqondisa ekusetshenzisweni izinhlelo zokuvuselela ezisiza nokusekela ukuboshwa komama nengane. Izinhlelo ezinjalo zizosiza ekukhanyiseni, ekufundiseni nasekukhuthazeni omama ababoshiwe ukuqinisa nokuvikela izinyunyana nezingane zabo kanye noMnyango ukuhlinzeka ngezinhlelo ezikhethekile zokuvakashelwa ezisiza. / Injongo yesifundo kukuphanda iingxaki ezinokubanjwa koomama abavalelwe ngokubhekiselele ekunakekeleni abantwana, esekelwe kwi-Durban West Correctional Centre. Isikhokelo sobugcisa beli phofu siquka iNkcazo yobudlelwane, iNkcazelo yeGendered Ways, kunye ne-General Strain Theory. Olu phando lusebenzisa ubuchule bokuphanda. Iingxowa-ndlebe ezivulekileyo, ezivulekileyo zagqitywa kunye noomama abathunjiweyo aba-15 basekelwe e-Durban West Correctional Centre basebenzisa ubuchule bokuncedisa. Ubudlelwane phakathi koomama nabantwana bakhe bubaluleke kakhulu, kwanokuba boomama abavalelwe. Nangona kunjalo, oomama abavalelwa bengenakukwazi ukunyamekela uxanduva lwabo lokunakekela abantwana ngenxa yokunciphisa ngokomzimba nangokomzwelo owenziwe ngokubanjwa. Oomama abangabandakanyekanga kulolu cwaningo babonisa imingeni yabo kunye neemfuno zabo zokuphucula iinkqubo zokubanceda ukunciphisa imingeni yokunakekela abantwana. Uphando luyabonisa ukuba abanye babamama abavalelwe bavaleleke kwimvelaphi ephazamisayo, kuquka imingcipheko yemvakalelo, iimingcipheko zemali, ukuxhaphazwa ngamagama, ukusetyenziswa kakubi ngokomzimba nokuxhaphazwa ngokwesondo ngaphambi kokuvalelwa. Imingeni yabo inzima xa iboshwe kunye neencwadi ezibhekiswe kuzo zibonisa ukuba imingeni yabo iyaqhubeka yokukhululwa. Ukubuyiselwa kwakhona nokubuyiswa kwakhona komenzi wesono kuye kwaba yintloko ekujoliswe kuyo kwiSebe leeNkonzo zoLuleko ekuboneni ukuba ububanzi beenkonzo sele buyekelele kwinkqubo "yokulawula" leyo yokubuyiswa. Uphononongo lubonisa izikhala kwiiprogram zokuvuselela ezinikezelwa liSebe. Ukuqhubela phambili, isifundo sinenjongo yokwenza iingcebiso kwiSebe leeNkonzo zoLuleko ekuphunyezweni iinkqubo zokubuyisela ukuxhasa nokuxhasa unxibelelwano lomama nomntwana. Ezi nkqubo zinokuncedisa ngokukhanyisa, ukufundisa nokukhuthaza oomama abavalelwe ukuqinisa kunye nokukhusela iimanyano nabantwana babo kunye neSebe ukwenzela iinkqubo zokutyelela ezikhethekileyo. / Corrections Management / M.A. (Correctional Management)

Text in English / While correctional centres are often associated with men, there is an increasing number of incarcerated women who have rehabilitation needs that are specific to their gender. Historically correctional centres have responded through offering rehabilitative programmes that stereotyped women offenders into socially constructed gender roles. Using a feminist criminology framework, the current study aimed to explore the subjective inner experience and meaning given by women classified as maximum security offenders to the rehabilitation processes in the Johannesburg Correctional Centre. Data was collected from 18 incarcerated women who are and were once classified as maximum offenders. A narrative analysis was used in understanding the data from the interviews. Women’s narratives in the current study reflect unique and common experiences with rehabilitation in the correctional centre. Being a maximum security offender presents a challenge of further perceived discrimination, alienation and isolation amongst women who describe limited involvement in rehabilitation as a result of this identity. Also highlighted in the study are challenges in implementing gender sensitive programming in a penal system infused with power dynamics; a discipline and punish narrative; patriarchy; binary view of gender and ethnocentrism. A continued reinforcement of traditional structures, systems and practices that seek to perpetuate gendered form of existence is also evident in the current study. Therefore, a need for the reformation of the correctional centre context and culture is suggested so as to respond in a manner that is not only gender sensitive, but also inclusive enough in recognising both in theory and in practice, the various locations of inequality in society that influence female criminality. The principle of Ubuntu demonstrated through caring, compassion and hospitability which empowers and edifies the other person through interrelatedness is one of the promising initiatives that can guide correctional centres and society in the implementation of gender sensitive programmes, while paying attention to the socio-cultural dynamics that influence women’s pathways to crime. / Psychology / D. Phil. (Psychology)

A need to correct the behaviour and deeds of people who have been incarcerated has been in the plans of the South African Government for a number of years now. Shifting from being punishment to rehabilitation centres, the correctional places have the aim to rehabilitate and prepare inmates to be included in and accepted by the society beyond their incarceration period. Qualitative and quantitative approaches were adopted. The case study design was employed to provide the researcher with the flexibility to gather data after an in-depth study of the LIS in Leeuwkop and Johannesburg correctional centres. The targeted population was the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) officials in charge of the LIS, Gauteng Department of Arts and Culture (DAC), City of Johannesburg (CoJ) municipality LIS Department and offenders from the Leeuwkop and Johannesburg correctional services. The purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample for the study. Interviews were held with six Leeuwkop and Johannesburg DCS officials, one official from the City of Johannesburg LIS Department responsible for project management, and two officials from the Department of Arts and Culture. Questionnaires were administered to Leeuwkop and Johannesburg offenders. Triangulation was used to provide different views and opinions during the data analysis. The qualitative data was analysed thematically while the quantitative data was analysed numerically with tables and graphs. Ethical considerations were taken into account by acknowledging authors and providing consent forms to the participants. The study established that there was a provisional policy for correctional services libraries in Gauteng. However, most libraries did not utilise it as they rather used other policies. This is due to the fact that libraries are not autonomous but are under the formal authority of the Department of Education and Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (SRAC). Most inmates knew about the LIS facilities in their centres. However, the study found out that the materials stored in the libraries were out-dated and limited. Additionally, most centres did not have programmes to rehabilitate offenders while they are within the correctional facilities and to reintegrate them back into the society after their release. The study recommends that another study be done pertaining to the mandate and development of policies for the DCS libraries. / Information Science / M. Inf.

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the experiences of South African women prior to, during and after incarceration. The theoretical bases for this study include the general strain theory (GST), feminist pathways approach and Goffman’s “total institutions”. The study made use of a qualitative research design. In-depth interviews were conducted with a total of twenty female ex-prisoners, who were selected using snowball sampling, to obtain information about their experiences during the periods indicated. The findings of the study indicated that, in respect of the three periods mentioned, the participants cited their experiences during incarceration as the most prominent as they tended to dwell more on this phase of their lives than any other phase. This is, in fact, not surprising as their narratives portrayed their lives behind bars as having been traumatic with far-reaching consequences for their lives after their incarceration. The study found that some of the participants had histories of emotional and physical abuse before their offending behaviours. It emerged that consensual same-sex sexual relationships between females in South African prisons exist and that these relationships are, sometimes, accepted by the family members of the female inmates. The participants reported that coercive sexual relationships also take place in female prisons in South Africa. It was also reported that the conditions under which females are incarcerated are, for the most part, deplorable. It emerged that the female prisoners use a unique monetary system which is based mainly on the trade by barter system. In addition, the findings revealed that female inmates often experience daunting challenges upon their release from prison, including high rates of unemployment, stigma and discrimination, family breakdown and the psychological effects of imprisonment, all of which often compound the resolve of some of the participants to live crime-free lives. / Sociology / D.Litt. et Phil. (Sociology)

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the experiences of South African women prior to, during and after incarceration. The theoretical bases for this study include the general strain theory (GST), feminist pathways approach and Goffman’s “total institutions”. The study made use of a qualitative research design. In-depth interviews were conducted with a total of twenty female ex-prisoners, who were selected using snowball sampling, to obtain information about their experiences during the periods indicated. The findings of the study indicated that, in respect of the three periods mentioned, the participants cited their experiences during incarceration as the most prominent as they tended to dwell more on this phase of their lives than any other phase. This is, in fact, not surprising as their narratives portrayed their lives behind bars as having been traumatic with far-reaching consequences for their lives after their incarceration. The study found that some of the participants had histories of emotional and physical abuse before their offending behaviours. It emerged that consensual same-sex sexual relationships between females in South African prisons exist and that these relationships are, sometimes, accepted by the family members of the female inmates. The participants reported that coercive sexual relationships also take place in female prisons in South Africa. It was also reported that the conditions under which females are incarcerated are, for the most part, deplorable. It emerged that the female prisoners use a unique monetary system which is based mainly on the trade by barter system. In addition, the findings revealed that female inmates often experience daunting challenges upon their release from prison, including high rates of unemployment, stigma and discrimination, family breakdown and the psychological effects of imprisonment, all of which often compound the resolve of some of the participants to live crime-free lives. / Sociology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Sociology)

Risk taking behaviours such as drug use, sexual activities and tattooing are prevalent in the correctional institutions, including those in South Africa. Such behaviours pose a serious challenge as regards health care of inmates. In particular, these behaviours contribute to the transmission of HIV/AIDS which results in morbidity and mortality. Harm reduction components are employed as effective measure to curb the spread of the pandemic. These components are lauded owing to their considerable impact. They consist of needle exchange programmes, substitution therapy, condom provision and education. Various developing (Morocco, Brazil and Egypt) and developed (Scotland and Canada) countries make use of such components to address risk taking behaviours in correctional institutions. Although condom provision and education have been implemented by the South African Department of Correctional Services in state institutions, there is an urgent need to enhance the efforts. This study investigates the extent of risk taking behaviours amongst inmates at the Leeuwkop Correctional Centre. It also determines the level of knowledge of inmates and staff regarding HIV/AIDS. The researcher employed a qualitative form of methodology, collecting data by means of a structured questionnaire. The data was coded and analysed by means of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. The findings reveal that the risk taking behaviours are prevalent at the Leeuwkop Correctional Centre. Furthermore, the analysis of the knowledge items regarding HIV/AIDS indicates that there are certain deficits that require attention. They are also notable differences in the primary sources of HIV information for inmates and staff. It was found that a dire need exists to enhance and expand current harm reduction initiatives in correctional institutions in order to offer health care services that are compliant with international conventions such as the Dublin Declaration on HIV/AIDS as well as the South African Constitution. Reluctance to do so is tantamount to housing inmates in „de facto‟ death chambers. Hence the augmentation of such initiatives is strongly recommended. / Penology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Penology)