Exploring the impact of custodial parkrun in an English women’s prison: HMPPS psychologists and partners delivering a best practice evaluation
| Date | 30 August 2024 |
| Pages | 84-99 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-12-2023-0076 |
| Published date | 30 August 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 | Lisa Edmondson,Harleen Kooner,Cara Wood |
Exploring the impact of custodial parkrun
in an English women’s prison: HMPPS
psychologists and partners delivering a
best practice evaluation
Lisa Edmondson, Harleen Kooner and Cara Wood
Abstract
Purpose –This paper describes qualitative research evaluating the impacts of parkrun in a female
prison. The extendedmethodology section explains why HMPPSpsychologists have been ideally suited
to investigate custodial parkrun whilst successfully partnering with a range of stakeholders, conferring
benefitsthat could not have been achieved in anyother way.
Design/methodology/approach –Purposive sampling resulted in 15 semi-structured interviews with
prisonerparkrunners and volunteers at a women’sprison in England.
Findings –A range of highlypositive parkrun experiences were described,which were grouped into four
themes with sub-themes; improved mental and physical health, a sense of purpose, enhanced
connections to others and stabilisation in prison. Women struggled when custodial parkrun was
inconsistentlydelivered.
Research limitations/implications –Custodial parkrun offers an opportunity for women to develop
factors underpinning health and well-being, harnesses elements which engage women in physical
activity and mitigatessome gendered barriers to exercise. The findings also describe factors which are
important to desistance,the development of a rehabilitation culture, self-determination theory (Ryan and
Deci, 2000) and a trauma-informed approach. The opportunity for women to participate in parkrun
throughthe gate may offer an important and sustainable ‘‘catalystfor change’’ (Maruna, 2001, p. 96).
Practical implications –The paper discusses howparkrun might be further utilised across the female
prison estate. It adds to theevidence base regarding the benefits of physical activityfor women, which
might be considered when developing a sports strategy specific to the female estate. Additionally,
HMPPS managers hoping to further develop the rehabilitation culture in their establishment might be
persuaded as to the benefits of parkrun in this regard. Finally, the work provides an exemplar of how
HMPPS psychologistscan work with stakeholders to enhancepractice evaluations.
Originality/value –This is only thesecond published research paper focusing on theimpacts of parkrun
in the custodial estate, and the first looking at women. Additionally, its inclusion in this Special Edition
mean it is among the first published works describing how HMPPS psychologists can successfully
partnerwith stakeholders to support evidence-basedpractice.
Keywords sport, physical activity, women, parkrun, prison, rehabilitation, desistance, trauma informed
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Women in custody
Incarcerated women have been described as “marginalised” in a prison system designed for
men (Home Office, 2007, p. 3), given their varied and complex needs (Her Majesty’s
Inspectorate of Prisons, 2022). Women are more likely than men to be serving shor t sentences
for non-violent offences (House of Commons Justice Select C ommittee, 2022)andtohave
Lisa Edmondson, Harleen
Kooner and Cara Wood are
all based at the
Psychological Services
Group, HMPPS,
Berkhamsted, UK.
Received 18 December 2023
Revised 23 April 2024
12 July 2024
Accepted 23 July 2024
PAGE 84 jTHE JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PRACTICE jVOL. 27 NO. 1 2025, pp. 84-99, ©EmeraldPublishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8794 DOI 10.1108/JFP-12-2023-0076
experienced trauma, domestic abuse and substance use issues throughout thei r lives
(Ministry of Justice, 2023). Three quarters of women in prison are estimated to suffer from
mental health conditions (Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons, 2022), a nd despite women
making up only 4% of the prison population, they account for 29% of all self-harm incident s
recorded (Howard League for Penal Reform, 2023). The Governmen t’s Female Offender
Strategy (Ministry of Justice,2018a, 2018b) recognised the changes that need ed to be made
to the custodial environment to better meet the needs of female prisoners, with an increased
focus on trauma informed care amongst other recommendations. However , it has been
accepted that progress against these has been slow (House of Commons Justice Sel ect
Committee, 2022).
The benefits of physical activity
“If physical activity were a drug, we would refer to it as a miracle cure” (Department of
Health and Social Care, 2019, p. 3).
Sport and exercise have been found to impart significant physical, social and psychological
benefits for women in custody (Martinez-Merino et al.,2017), including enhancing capacity
to cope (De Marco and Meek, 2022;Meek and Lewis, 2014;Ozano, 2008), developing
supportive relationships with staff which can motivate and enhance self-belief (Meek and
Lewis, 2014), improving self-esteem(Ozano, 2008), increasing psychological well-beingand
reducing symptoms of depression (Meek and Lewis, 2014). Additionally, longer term
benefits have been identified (Meek et al.,2012;Meek and L ewis, 2014), positively
impacting women’s futures by supporting the development of key protective factors against
future offending.
In comparison to men, there has been little consideration given in the literature as to how
sport can help female offenders on their desistance journey. One recent exception is a
paper by Kay et al. (2022), which describes how the delivery of a Twinning football project
in a women’s prison delivered the “up front” work that might kick start desistance (Maruna,
2001), by providing opportunities for identity change, relationship building and the
development of Ryan and Deci’s (2000) basic psychological needs of autonomy,
connectedness and mastery, the foundations of Self-Determination Theory(SDT).
As such, physical activity has the potential to complement traditional health-care input for
women in custody, as well as to perhaps offset the “pains of imprisonment” (Sykes, 1958).
Additionally, sport can supportthe development of factors important to desistance.
Factors which facilitate physical activity
Some researchers have focused their efforts exploring factors which facilitate the
engagement of women prisoners with physical activity. Tibbets (2015), in her sample of 24
incarcerated US women, found those who built supportive relationships with peers and
instructors during their cycling training, were more likely to sustain their engagement.
Autonomy and competence, the remaining basic psychological needs outlined in SDT,
were also related to adherenceto the programme.
Although SDT was not explicitly mentioned in Coleman et al.’s (2008) study of participation
in physical activity for UK girls aged 17–19, themes around mastery, connectedness and
autonomy distinguished those who “always” exercised from those that “never” exercised.
The “always” group had strong bonds with others who engaged in sport, and additionally,
had a positive perception of their own abilities in sport (that is, competence), this being a
strong facilitator of further engagement, along with having autonomy and choice in
engagement.
VOL. 27 NO. 1 2025 jTHEJOURNAL OF FORENSIC PRACTICE jPAGE 85
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