Are indeterminate sentenced prisoners prepared for open prison? Practical implications/applications of an exploratory study in an English open prison
| Date | 02 September 2024 |
| Pages | 100-114 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-11-2023-0063 |
| Published date | 02 September 2024 |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Forensic practice,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Law enforcement/correctional,Public policy & environmental management,Policing,Criminal justice |
| Author | Toni Edgell,Hannah Lorimer |
Are indeterminate sentenced prisoners
prepared for open prison? Practical
implications/applications of an exploratory
study in an English open prison
Toni Edgell and Hannah Lorimer
Abstract
Purpose –Research indicates the challenges indeterminate sentenced prisoners (ISPs) face within
open prison may have a potentially devastating impact on rehabilitation and prison sentence
progression. The authors conducted a study in an English open prison to explore whether the closed
prison environment within England and Wales is sufficiently preparing ISPs for the transition to open
conditions. There is currentlya gap in existing research concerning this issue, which this paperaims to
narrowfor the purpose of informing good practice and improvingsentence progression and rehabilitation
outcomeswithin His Majesty’s Prison and ProbationService.
Design/methodology/approach –Qualitative and exploratory. Reflexive thematic analysis was condu cted
to identify themes (Braun and Clarke, 2019).
Findings –Findings indicated the need for policy in closed prisons to better prepare ISPs for open
prison andthe need for policy in open prisons to bettersupport ISPs during the liminal phase.
Practical implications –Findings aimed to inform consideration for improvements to enhance
preparation for, and transition to, open conditions. A 17-month follow-up after dissemination of the
research found evidence for the practical application of the findings at a local level within HMPPS and
potentialfor wider applications linking to strategy and ISPinitiatives.
Originality/value –If applied morewidely across HMPPS in both closed and open prisons,the research
findingshave the potential to improve sentenceprogression and rehabilitation outcomesfor ISPs.
Keywords Transition, Prison, Open, Closed, ISP, Prepare
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
“Adjusting to open prison conditions can be substantially challenging for indet erminate
sentenced prisoners (ISPs) due to the self-management and equilibrium they have established
in closed prison” (Crewe et al.,2020). Understanding is therefore needed regarding the
specific challenges ISPs (comprising both life-sentenced prisoners and pr isoners serving
indeterminate sentences for public protection [IPP]) face i n open conditions, and whether they
have been sufficiently prepared to cope with these challenges while i n closed prison.
Few studies have explored the reality of life within open prison conditions. Fewer still
have focused on those aspects that present challenges to prisoners, particularly ISPs, as
a result of being unprepared for the transition while in closed prison. Honeywell (2015),
for example, considers aspects of the lived experiences of eight prisoners in an open
prison. However, the focus of his research is more generally concerned with the lived
experiences of prisoners serving life sentences within closed prisons in England and
Toni Edgell and Hannah
Lorimer are both based at
Psychology Services,
HMPPS, Berkhamsted, UK.
Received 29 November 2023
Revised 21 March 2024
24 July 2024
Accepted 14 August 2024
PAGE 100 jTHE JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PRACTICE jVOL. 27 NO. 1 2025, pp. 100-114, ©EmeraldPublishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8794 DOI 10.1108/JFP-11-2023-0063
Get this document and AI-powered insights with a free trial of vLex and Vincent AI
Get Started for FreeStart Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
