Peer Support, Desistance and the Role of the Third Sector
| Date | 01 September 2019 |
| Published date | 01 September 2019 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/hojo.12333 |
| Author | KEITH HINDE,ROB WHITE |
The Howard Journal Vol58 No 3. September 2019 DOI: 10.1111/hojo.12333
ISSN 2059-1098, pp. 329–348
Peer Support, Desistance and the
Role of the Third Sector
KEITH HINDE and ROB WHITE
Keith Hinde is Co-ordinator of the Prison Support Program in Tasmania for
the Red Cross; Rob White is Professor of Criminology, University of Tasmania,
Australia
Abstract: This article explores the limits and possibilities of peer support schemes within a
prison setting. The theoretical lens is that of desistance, with particular attention given to
the concepts of ‘giving back’ and ‘being listened to’ as intentional means of fostering proso-
cial attitudes and outcomes. The analysis is based upon formal evaluation and informal
critical reflections pertaining to the Prison Support Program delivered by the Australian
Red Cross in Tasmania, Australia. The article considers the political landscape of law
and order in Tasmania, and where the third sector fits into contemporary configura-
tions. It outlines the foundational concepts and relationship elements that underpin peer
support programmes, and discusses the practical barriers and opportunities that shape
grounded practice. It concludes with a series of observations that might usefully guide
the development and improvement of peer support schemes as they continue to evolve and
respond to changing institutional circumstances and political environments.
Keywords: desistance; peer support; prisoners; Red Cross; throughcare
Introduction
This article is based upon formal evaluation, personal experiences, and
informal critical reflections pertaining to the Prison Support Program de-
livered by Red Cross in Tasmania, Australia. This programme is primarily
offered within the prison system, although efforts are currently being made
to expand its purview to include post-release as well.
The use of peer support models is well established internationally in ar-
eas such as mental health and drug rehabilitation, but prisons and courts
seem more reluctant to apply these models to criminal justice and prison
reintegration specifically. Despite this fact, prison-based and post-release
peer-led models have had remarkable success and Seppings (2016) has
written extensively on the value of these approaches in a study of 65 peer-
led initiatives in prisons across the world, including the UK, Sweden, and
the USA (see also Buck 2018; O’Sullivan, Hart and Healy 2018). In this re-
port she makes reference to the fact that: ‘Weneed to remove the ingrained
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2019 The Howard League and John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford OX4 2DQ, UK
The Howard Journal Vol58 No 3. September 2019
ISSN 2059-1098, pp. 329–348
resistance to the concept of offenders, former offenders and their families
as experts – because in this case, that is what they are’ (Ramrayza 2010,
p.25). As this article will outline, a fellow prisoner or returned citizen is in a
unique position to provide support to another incarcerated individual, as
their shared journey may provide credibility, authenticity, a high potential
for empathy, and some similar experiences and perspectives.
The Prison Support Program was developed in consultation with Tas-
manian Corrections in 2007 to address extraordinarily high levels of self-
harm, bullying and attempted suicide at the prison. Prison inmates train
as peer supporters to provide information, advice, and support to other
offenders – particularly those who are new to the prison or are at risk
of suicide or self-harm. Peer supporters are trained in a number of areas
including mental health first aid, drug and alcohol issues, blood borne
viruses, communication skills, and maintaining confidentiality and advo-
cacy. As a part of the programme several participants have undertaken a
Certificate II in Community Services, enhancing their employment oppor-
tunities following their release.
The theoretical lens for this article is that of desistance from future of-
fending, with particular attention given to the concepts of ‘giving back’
and ‘being listened to’ as intentional means of fostering prosocial atti-
tudes and outcomes. Understanding the potential, and limitations, of this
programme – and thereby, of its theoretical orientation and practice foun-
dations – is vital to assessing institutional reform.
The ‘third sector’, of which Red Cross is a part, refers to voluntary,
charitable and non-governmental organisations that work in the criminal
justice space. These organisations are distinct from public, statutory, pri-
vate, or commercial organisations in that they operate voluntarily and as
not-for-profit. There is immense potential for even greater partnership
and co-operation between the third sector and government or private
institutions, but there are, nonetheless, complex challenges; in terms of
what service is to be provided, why it is offered, who has control over the
service, and how much funding is available (Corcoran 2008; Mills, Meek
and Gojkovic 2012; Tomczak and Buck 2019). Who benefits from such
partnerships is a major consideration.
At the present time, there is ongoing discussion about the appropriate-
ness of third sector involvement in the criminal justice system. In particular,
there seems to be a strategic push to include them even more, generally
because of a government perception that their engagement results in sig-
nificant cost-saving. Financial considerations such as this, however, tend
to be masked by rhetoric that emphasises the importance of ‘community’
involvement and engagement (Meek, Gojkovic and Mills 2010).
By providing insight into both the role of third sector parties in offender
programmes and the importance of political context in interpreting and
evaluating such engagement, this article provides critical discussion of the
persistent struggles evident within, and about, criminal justice. The article
retains an awareness of these political and strategic issues, but will mainly
focus on describing the value of the peer support model and how it is
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2019 The Howard League and John Wiley & Sons Ltd
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