Self-harm by adult men in prison: A rapid evidence assessment
| DOI | 10.1177/0264550518809849b |
| Date | 01 December 2018 |
| Published date | 01 December 2018 |
| Author | Sharon Brereton |
| Subject Matter | Research & reports |
It is an exasperating situat ion. Third-sector provid ers remain eager to work in th e
sector, and we found the quality of their work reasonable overall. Many are providing
a more expansive service to individuals than they are paid for. Supply chains are thin,
however, and set to get thinner still, as CRCs continue to review and slim down
provision. (Foreword: 5)
When the whole report is digested and the findings contextualized within the
Transforming Rehabilitation strategy, the reader is left to consider both the missed
opportunities and the Chief Inspector’s gloomy prediction that ‘As things stand, the
future looks bleak for some, and particularly for those individuals who could benefit
so much from the services they can provide’ (2018: 5).
Note
1. For a discussion of the positive impact of peer mentoring and employment of ex-offenders
see T. Worsfold (2018) Crossing the Bridge: From Offender to Probation Worker, ICCJ
Monograph No 10. London: Napo.
HM Inspectorate of Probation (2018) Probation Supply Chains – A Thematic
Inspection, Manchester: HMI Probation, April 2018. Available at: https://www.
justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/inspections/supplychain/
Steve Collett
Probation Journal Editorial Board
Self-harm by adult men in prison: A rapid
evidence assessment
Since 2011, self-harm amongst men in prison has risen, and by the end of 2015 the
rate per 1000 male prisoners had increased by 90 per cent. Due to the increased
statistics within this prison population, who have previously received little attention
in academic literature, a Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) was undertaken. Its
purpose was to improve the understanding of self-harm, and to develop and inform
thinking towards the management and treatment, as well as improving the outcome,
for those who self-harm. The REA was created to assess the distinct characteristics
and motivations of the men who self-harm and reference is made to the definition of
self-harm by the HMPPS. To support these aims, the primary research questions
addressed by the REA were: ‘Why do adult men in prison self harm?’ and ‘What
works to reduce and/or manage self-harm among adult men in prison?’
The methodology used was taken from a range of databases and studies for
relevant literature. From a sample of 2137 papers, 14 studies met the inclusion
criteria and findings from these studies were drawn upon in developing the rec-
ommendations. The REA offered a note of caution as the literature was found to be
contradictory in places, which limited the generalisation of some findings.
The key findings revealed that there were severalempirically supported riskfactors
for men who self-harm in prison, although there was little evidence of protective
Research & reports 451
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