Prisoner intentions to participate in an electronic monitoring scheme: an application of the theory of planned behaviour

Date20 September 2013
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-05-2013-0013
Published date20 September 2013
Pages108-114
AuthorRhonda Maria Young,Garry Raymond Prentice,Christopher George McLaughlin
Subject MatterHealth & social care,Public policy & environmental management,Sociology
Prisoner intentions to participate in
an electronic monitoring scheme: an
application of the theory of planned
behaviour
Rhonda Maria Young, Garry Raymond Prentice and Christopher George McLaughlin
Rhonda Maria Young is a
Prison Officer and Dr Garry
Raymond Prentice is a
Lecturer, both are based at
Dublin Business School,
Dublin, Ireland.
Rhonda Maria Young is a
Prison Officer and Garry
Raymond Prentice is a
Lecturer, both are based at
Dublin Business School,
Dublin, Ireland.
Dr Christopher George
McLaughlin is based at School
of Nursing, University of Ulster,
Londonderry, UK.
Abstract
Purpose – There is a need to address the implications of offender electronic monitoring (EM) within
Ireland. Thus this research examined prisoner EM participation intentions through an application of the
Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) (Ajzen, 1991).
Design/methodology/approach – A male sample (n ¼101) from two Dublin prisons completed a TPB
survey anonymously.
Findings – The moderately favourable prisoner attitudes suggested positive orientations towards
participation in EM but did suggest some perceived difficulties. Subjective norms had a strong positive
influence on intentions.
Research limitations/implications – Prisonerintentions were generallypositive towards EM participation.
This bodes well for future EM schemes in Ireland. It is also essential to gather other perspectives relevant to
the prison system, when implementing EM.
Originality/value – The TPB offers an effective approach to understanding prisoner’s EM intentions.
More specifically, the TPB pinpointed the prisoners’ favourable intentions towards participating in an
EM scheme by highlighting the influence of positive attitudes towards EM and their strong belief that
significant others shared these positive attitudes.
Keywords Prisoners, Electronic monitoring, Ireland, Participation intentions,
Theory of planned behaviour
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
It can be argued that prisons are overcrowded, not because the criminal justice system is
functioning better, or because there are more crimes being committed, but because prisons
are being used excessively. Unfortunately, prison can be frequently used instead of alternatives
to custody. The United Kingdom Criminal Justice Act (2003) tried to alleviate the pressure on
the prison system by embracing a system that included alternatives to custody such as
electronic monitoring (EM). Ireland have followed suit with the introduction of a community
release scheme incorporating implementation of EM (Lally, 2012). The need for EM within a
community release scheme was highlighted within the criminal justice system in the UK
(Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology Postnote, 2008). Thus there is a need to
examine the implications of the introduction of EM within the Irish context. This research aimed
to examine prisoners’ attitudes towards EM through use of the Theory of Planned Behaviour
(TPB) (Ajzen, 1991).
PAGE 108
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JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY
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VOL. 3 NO. 2 2013, pp. 108-114, CEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2009-3829 DOI 10.1108/JCP-05-2013-0013

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