Degrees of Freedom – Prison Education at the Open University R. Earle and J. Mehigan. Bristol: Policy Press (2021) 234pp. £21.50pb ISBN 978‐1‐4473‐5307‐2
| Published date | 01 March 2021 |
| Author | R.E. LITTLE |
| Date | 01 March 2021 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/hojo.12410 |
The Howard Journal Vol60 No 1. March 2021 DOI: 10.1111/hojo.12409
ISSN 2059-1098, pp. 141–148
Book Reviews
Prison Suicide: What Happens Afterwards? P. Tomczak. Bristol: Bristol University Press
(2018) 180pp. £45.00hb ISBN 978–1529203585
Suicides in prison have, for many years, attracted considerable academic attention across
a range of disciplines. Much of this research has focused on understanding why people
take their own lives in prison custody by examining the individual characteristics and
institutional factors that may contribute to suicide incidence in prisons. However, less is
known about the investigatory processes that occur after prison suicides and what these
investigations achieve. In this timely book, Philippa Tomczak seeks to address this gap
by shifting focus to these post-suicide investigations. Toachieve this, she analyses the op-
eration of prison suicide investigations in England and Wales and explores stakeholders’
experiences of these multifarious processes.
The book opens with an overview of existing research on prison suicide and the defi-
nitional challenges presented by suicides in prisons. Here, Tomczakdeftly draws together
previous research on the causes of prison suicide and its prevention with her own work
to explore the topics of stigma, institutional apathy, and the ‘vicious cycles of suicidogenic
discourses and practices’ (p.17) that may be triggered among prison staff following indi-
vidual suicides. The opening chapter also establishes the ‘post-death vantage point’ (p.3)
as the focus for Tomczak’sanalysis. Post-death investigations have received limited atten-
tion in research and practice. This is despite acknowledgement of their potential value
in improving suicide prevention, the growing recognition of the post-incident traumas
experienced by staff, prisoners and bereaved families, and the national variability in the
scope and nature of these investigations. The consequences of the suicide of a person in
prison for their family, other prisoners, and prison staff are also briefly covered, setting
the scene for deeper analysis in Chapter 3.
This book draws on interviews with stakeholders as well as analysis of Prisons and
Probation Ombudsman (PPO) fatal incident reports and Coroners’ Reports to Prevent
Future Deaths (PFD). Tomczak conducted interviews with a small group of stakeholders,
including varying public and voluntary sector monitoring bodies and bereaved families.
These interviews offer rich insights into the views and experiences of those in Tomczak’s
sample. The context of Tomczak’swork is stark, with data collected during a period of ris-
ing suicides in prisons in England and Wales.From 2012, suicides continued to rise, peak-
ing in 2016 when a record high number of self-inflicted prisoner deaths was recorded.
Tomczak’s research is very much rooted in this period, with the PPO reports sample
containing deaths from 2012 to 2017 and the interviews undertaken during 2016–17.
Although this likely shaped the discussion and conclusions presented in this book, it also
expands the contribution of Tomczak’s analysis, offering welcome insight into investiga-
tive outcomes and experiences during a period of acute crisis.
Chapter 2 focuses on the operation of prison suicide investigations in England and
Wales. This is preceded by a useful overview of the investigative obligations arising from
Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The nature and scope each
investigation encompasses is described in turn, including the police, Ombudsman and
Coroner investigations that usually form the Article 2-compliant investigation. Tomczak
141
C
2021 The Howard League and John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford OX4 2DQ, UK
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