-
Are indeterminate sentenced prisoners prepared for open prison? Practical implications/applications of an exploratory study in an English open prison Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2024-09-02 Toni Edgell, Hannah Lorimer
Purpose Research indicates the challenges indeterminate sentenced prisoners (ISPs) face within open prison may have a potentially devastating impact on rehabilitation and prison sentence progression. The authors conducted a study in an English open prison to explore whether the closed prison environment within England and Wales is sufficiently preparing ISPs for the transition to open conditions. There
-
Two studies evaluating the Stoicism programme at a foreign national prison Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2024-09-03 Gavin Frost, Rebecca Trant, Jacob Seaward
Purpose Understanding of wellbeing has improved in recent years, and the literature has established some links between wellbeing and aggression, which appears to be theoretically supported. “Hedonia” (maximising positive emotions and minimising negative emotions) and “eudaimonia” (living well and with meaning), two core components of wellbeing, are targeted by the Stoicism programme, which is currently
-
A preliminary exploration of using the power threat meaning framework with individuals currently serving IPP sentences in custody Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2024-09-03 Kelly Mulligan, Emily Nash
Purpose This study aims to explore the potential impact of applying the Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF), to develop a collaborative formulation with those serving Indeterminate Sentences for Public Protection (IPP), where there have been serious concerns with sentence progression. Design/methodology/approach Given little research has focused on the utility of the PTMF with this cohort, a case
-
Enough is enough: treatment dropout predictors of adolescents with harmful sexual behaviors in a New Zealand community sample Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2024-09-03 Jonathan Tolcher, Ian Lambie, Kahn Tasker, Tamara Loverich
Purpose Adolescents with harmful sexual behaviors (AHSB) who drop out of treatment are more likely to continue offending than are those who complete treatment; therefore, it is important to identify factors that heighten the risk of dropout, so they can be detected early. The purpose of this paper is to present the predictors of treatment dropout derived from a community sample of AHSB in New Zealand
-
Exploring the impact of custodial parkrun in an English women’s prison: HMPPS psychologists and partners delivering a best practice evaluation Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2024-08-30 Lisa Edmondson, Harleen Kooner, Cara Wood
Purpose This paper describes qualitative research evaluating the impacts of parkrun in a female prison. The extended methodology section explains why HMPPS psychologists have been ideally suited to investigate custodial parkrun whilst successfully partnering with a range of stakeholders, conferring benefits that could not have been achieved in any other way. Design/methodology/approach Purposive sampling
-
“Banged up with ADHD”: a qualitative analysis of the experiences of adult men with ADHD in prison Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2024-08-22 Kayleigh Roberts, Daniel Lawrence
Purpose A recent Ministry of Justice inquiry highlighted the need for more awareness of neurodivergent conditions in the Criminal Justice System. Although evidence suggests a prevalence rate of 25% for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) within the UK prison population, there is no research to date that has explored the experiences of people with ADHD in prison. Therefore, this study aims
-
What are prison offender managers’ experiences of delivering New Me MOT? Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2024-07-22 Catia Pagano, Louise Fusco
Purpose The New Me MOT toolkit is part of the His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) accredited offending behaviour programmes, consisting of a series of short exercises that enable offender managers to support graduates of the programmes to generalise their learning. This study was commissioned by HMPPS with the aim to evaluate the delivery of the toolkit in custody, through exploring
-
What influences the use of seclusion? A cross-sectional study of forensic mental health nurses in a UK high secure hospital Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2024-07-16 Lindsay Tulloch, Helen Walker, Robin Ion
Purpose Incidents of violence and aggression are a regular occurrence within adult forensic mental health inpatient settings and often lead to the use of restrictive practices such as seclusion. Such events are frequently attributed to the complexity of the patients. Research commonly focuses on patient’s characteristics and their association with seclusion use. Less attention has been centred on forensic
-
Categories of white-collar offenders based on the theory of convenience Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2024-07-12 Petter Gottschalk, Christopher Hamerton
Purpose This paper aims to make a contribution to the offender-based perspective when researching white-collar and corporate crime. Previously, the offender-based perspective has emphasized general characteristics of actors such as social and occupational status, respectability and power. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents categories of offender types in their roles when offending. Findings
-
Understanding how the psychological and relational processes of a psychodynamic reflective group contribute to recovery on a medium secure ward Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2024-06-12 Anna Woodcock, Andy Cook, John McGowan
Purpose This study aimed to explore the psychological and relational processes of a service user reflective group on a medium secure forensic ward. The group was conceptualised by the service as a component of the therapeutic offer contributing to the patients’ journey towards recovery and this study aimed to explore whether the group was being experienced as beneficial, by service users and staff
-
Prison officers’ experiences of key-working with women living in a psychologically informed planned environment (PIPE) Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2024-06-11 Georgia Till, Iduna Shah-Beckley, Joel Harvey, Maisie Kells
Purpose A key aspect of psychologically informed planned environments (PIPEs), are the attachment theory-informed relationships between residents and staff (Bainbridge, 2017). The key-work provision of one-to-one support from officers to residents is one of the main ways through which relationships are formed. The purpose of this paper is to explore prison officers’ experiences of the key-work role
-
Readiness for re-entry among pre-release prisoners in Sarawak, Malaysia Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2024-05-31 N.K. Tharshini, Swee Kiong Wong, Faizah Haji Mas’ud, Kamsiah Ali, Nur Addila Ahmad
Purpose Re-entry refers to the process of transitioning back into society after incarceration, and it is a complex phenomenon that requires further exploration. Therefore, this study aims to identify the readiness for re-entry among pre-release prisoners in Sarawak, Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach Using Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory as the theoretical foundation, quantitative place-based
-
The use of Intermediaries (communication specialists) at Parole Board oral hearings in England and Wales Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2024-05-24 Brendan M. O'Mahony, Rebecca Milne, Kevin Smith
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to find out what role intermediaries have in facilitating communication with victims and prisoners at Parole Board (PB) oral hearings. Design/methodology/approach A survey was designed and administered to 39 PB members to find out their perceptions of, and experiences with, the use of intermediaries. Frequency tables and verbatim quotations are used to report the
-
Understanding weight management in adult secure mental health services: findings from a mixed-methods study in Northern England Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2024-05-10 Susanna Mills, Eileen Kaner, Sheena Ramsay, Iain McKinnon
Purpose Obesity and associated morbidity and mortality are major challenges for people with severe mental illness, particularly in secure (forensic) mental health care (patients who have committed a crime or have threatening behaviour). This study aims to explore experiences of weight management in secure mental health settings. Design/methodology/approach This study used a mixed-methods approach,
-
Self-harm and aggression in women who committed a criminal offence: a scoping review Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2024-04-29 Laura Khalil, Joao Da Silva Guerreiro
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the current state of the literature on the variables associated with self-harm and aggression in women who committed a criminal offence. Design/methodology/approach Studies were identified through online databases, namely, PsycINFO, PubMed, ERIC and EBSCOhost, as well as manual searches of reference lists of the selected studies. The target population
-
‘It is successful, and if it is successful, it reduces crime, and it can make the victims happier’: volunteers’ perceptions of working in restorative justice Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2024-04-16 Rosie Kitson-Boyce, Palwinder Athwal-Kooner
Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of those volunteering within a restorative justice service thus enabling an insight into their perceptions of the different methods used, their beliefs about restorative justice effectiveness, and its place within the criminal justice system. The study also sought to identify any challenges and positive experiences the participants encountered
-
An exploration of mock juror experience during the deliberations of a defendant diagnosed with a personality disorder Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2024-03-01 Sophie Wootton, Sophia Tkazky, Henriette Bergstrøm
Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate how mock jurors’ experiences of deliberations are impacted by the defendant having a personality disorder. Design/methodology/approach This study used a qualitative approach to explore mock jurors’ experiences during the deliberations of a fictional defendant, Sarah Priest. Ten participants formed two mock juries, and each mock jury were given two
-
Children and adolescents as perpetrators of stalking: an overview Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2024-02-16 Ethan Barr, Andrew Newman
Purpose Stalking is considered a public health priority with a range of adverse outcomes. This paper aims to explore existing literature on children and adolescents as perpetrators of stalking, with a focus on rates of stalking and victim and perpetrator characteristics associated with stalking. Design/methodology/approach A review of research where stalking was engaged in by those 18 years old and
-
Deception detection based on the linguistic style of honest and dishonest stories Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2024-02-12 Juan Camilo Carvajal Builes, Idaly Barreto, Carolina Gutiérrez de Piñeres
Purpose This study aims to describe and analyze the differences in the linguistic styles of honest and dishonest stories. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses a descriptive study with a multivariate analysis of linguistic categories according to the story. The research analyzed 37 honest stories and 15 dishonest stories produced during actual legal proceedings through software Linguistic Inquiry
-
First insights into post-pandemic distress in a high secure hospital: correlates among staff and patients Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2024-02-08 Yara Levtova, Irma Melunovic, Caroline Louise Mead, Jane L. Ireland
Purpose This preliminary investigation aims to examine the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients and staff within a high secure service. Design/methodology/approach To discern the connection between COVID-19-related distress and multiple factors, the study involved 31 patients and 34 staff who completed assessments evaluating coping strategies, resilience, emotional reactivity,
-
Animal abuse recidivism: a narrative review Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-11-21 Olivia Reid, Emma Alleyne
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to consolidate and evaluate the available research on animal abuse recidivism. Design/methodology/approach A narrative review of the animal abuse literature was conducted. Articles were included if they provided data/estimates of the rates of recidivism, findings regarding the static, dynamic and/or protective factors associated with animal abuse recidivism and
-
Group-based mindfulness interventions in prisons: a selective critical review Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-11-14 Madison Fern Harding-White, Dara Mojtahedi, Jerome Carson
Purpose The use of mindfulness interventions (MIs) as means to manage unwanted or undesirable affect and behaviour has increased in popularity recently. This has resulted in the trial of MIs as a means to benefit well-being within prisons, with some intention of reducing recidivism. This study aims to examine current research regarding the use of MIs within prisons. Design/methodology/approach A total
-
The impact of institutional child abuse: views of professionals Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-10-24 Rebecca Ozanne, Jane L. Ireland, Carol A. Ireland, Abigail Thornton
Purpose The purpose of this study is to build on previous literature in this area thus, the views of professionals working with those who report institutional abuse was sought using a Delphi method. Design/methodology/approach Professionals working with those who report institutional abuse, such as psychologists, social workers and personal injury lawyers, were invited to engage in the Delphi study
-
“Their home companion for us to share”; the rehabilitative value of staff bringing their dogs into a UK prison Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-10-23 Kirsten Wilson
Purpose Whilst a growing body of support exists for the use of prison animal programmes (PAPs), research within UK prisons is sparse. Opportunity to add to this body of literature is also limited due to the practical barriers around safely embedding animals within forensic settings. This study aims to capitalise on an opportunity to explore a visitation model of a prison-based dog programme (PBDP)
-
Suicide concerns among pretrial detainees: validation of the Portuguese version of the SCOPE-2 Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-10-18 Joana Andrade, Hugo Gomes, Rui Gonçalves, Andreia Castro-Rodrigues
Purpose Remand prisoners (RPs) are known to be in a more vulnerable situation than those already convicted. Beyond the difficulties to adapt to the prison, RP also tend to experience tough circumstances due to the uncertainty of their future. This study aims to further test the psychometric properties of the Suicide Concerns for Offenders in the Prison Environment (SCOPE-2) in a sample of RP. Desi
-
The function of food refusal in male prisons and custodial environments. A rapid evidence assessment (REA) Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-10-16 Jessica Adlam, Gemma Powell
Purpose This rapid evidence assessment (REA) study aims to synthesise what is known about food refusal within male prison populations to aid a better understanding of why this occurs. By looking at the various functions of food refusal for this population, it is hoped that professionals can better support prisoners’ needs in this area. Design/methodology/approach A rapid review of available data within
-
An exploration of staff views of a trauma-informed pathway in a sentenced and remand prison Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-10-13 Clare Crole-Rees, Jack Tomlin, Natasha Kalebic, Morwenna Collings, Neil P. Roberts, Andrew Forrester
Purpose People in prisons have a high prevalence of poly-traumatisation throughout their life span. The behavioural and emotional sequalae of trauma are likely to be managed across the whole organisation. However, there is still a lack of clarity about the key components of a trauma-informed approach within the custodial context. This study aimed to gather in-depth knowledge of staff views on the components
-
Exploration of student sex work in the North East of England Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-09-29 Mollie Haskins, Tinisha Osu, Michelle Carr
Purpose This paper aims to explore the prevalence, motivations and support for student sex work within North East higher education institutions. With limited existing research in this area, this study fills a crucial gap in understanding student sex work in the UK and its specific manifestation in the North East region. Design/methodology/approach To achieve its objectives, this study adopted an exploratory
-
A pedagogic evaluation comparing face to face and online formats of a multi-professional offender personality disorder (OPD) higher education training programme Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-09-27 Gary Lamph, Alison Elliott, Sue Wheatcroft, Gillian Rayner, Kathryn Gardner, Michael Haslam, Emma Jones, Mick McKeown, Jane Gibbon, Nicola Graham-Kevan, Karen Wright
Purpose The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of a novel offender personality disorder (OPD) higher education programme and the research evaluation results collected over a three-year period. Data from Phase 1 was collected from a face-to-face mode of delivery, and Phase 2 data collected from the same programme was from an online mode of delivery because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/
-
HKT-R Spider reference profiles. A guideline for fact-based decision-making regarding a forensic patients leave Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-08-16 Paul Ter Horst, Marinus Spreen, Stefan Bogaerts
Purpose This paper aims to illustrate by means of a case study how HKT-R Spider reference profiles of recidivists and non-recidivists may be supportive in leave decisions. Design/methodology/approach The authors describe what is known for recidivists and non-recidivists about changes in risk factors during treatment. The HKT-R Spider is introduced. By comparing a case study to group profiles, the authors
-
Impact of problem-solving skills and attributional retraining intervention on conduct disorder among junior male students at public secondary school in Nigeria: a non-randomized control study Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-08-11 Sewanu Awhangansi, Michael Lewis, Khalid Karim, Jibril Abdulmalik, Philip Archard, Adeniran Okewole, Michelle O'Reilly
Purpose This paper aims to report a non-randomized control study undertaken to investigate prevalence and correlates of conduct disorder among male secondary education students in South-West Nigeria and to assess the impact of a problem-solving skills and attributional retraining (PSSAR) intervention with this population. Design/methodology/approach In total, 787 male students from two schools were
-
Understanding experiences of suicidality within women’s prisons in England: a systematic review of the qualitative literature Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-08-01 Laura Struthers, Adam Mahoney
Purpose Suicide and suicide-related incidents have increased within women’s prisons in the UK. This paper aims to synthesise the findings of qualitative literature, to gain a deeper understanding of the how women and staff in English prisons experience and explain the causes of their suicidal behaviours. Design/methodology/approach A systematic search of five electronic databases, namely, MEDLINE,
-
Case series analysis validation of the ERICSO: a new assessment tool for internet child abuse material offenders Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-07-28 Catherine Garrington, Sally Fiona Kelty, Debra Rickwood, Douglas Boer
Purpose There are limited risk assessment tools validated for use with the internet child abuse material (I/CAM) offender cohort. Developed through a multi-stage process, the purpose of this paper is to present the “Estimated Risk for Internet Child Sexual Offending” (ERICSO), a new tool for I/CAM offender assessment, including demographic, collection, nature of engagement and social domains, plus
-
Patients’ experiences of forensic mental health inpatient care: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative literature Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-07-12 Karen Humphries, Caroline Clarke, Kate Willoughby, Jake Smithson
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop an understanding of the experience of secure care from the patients’ perspective. Design/methodology/approach A systematic review of qualitative literature was conducted. The data was sourced from the electronic databases: PsychINFO, CINAHL, Medline and the Web of Science Core Collection using pre-defined search terms. A total of 17 studies, conducted
-
Exploring the lived experience of secure patients during COVID-19 Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-07-04 Karen Humphries, Caroline Clarke, Kate Willoughby, Sophie Collingwood
Purpose In 2019, the world was hit by a life threatening severe acute respiratory syndrome causing a global pandemic; Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In the UK, a nationwide “lockdown” of public isolation and reduced social contact followed. The experience of COVID-19 and the lockdown for forensic secure mental health patients is yet to be understood. This study aims to explore this phenomenon from
-
The use of video remote interpreting (VRI) in a medium secure psychiatric setting during the COVID-19 lockdown Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-07-04 Aile Trumm, Edward Jun Shing Lau, Shirley Farthing, Kieran Breen
Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted the lives of the deaf community, and the implementation of restrictions on face-to-face meetings resulted in the trial introduction of video remote interpreting (VRI) in a secure psychiatric setting. This study aims to use a qualitative research paradigm to explore user experiences to inform potential future technological developments in this area
-
Prison to desistance: (re)integration and aftercare for those released from prison Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-06-21 Carollyne Youssef
Purpose Most prisoners are eventually returned to their communities, making their transition into the community and aftercare a fundamental aspect of successful re-entry. This paper aims to explore the stages of someone’s reintegration from pre-release, through to reintegration and desistance and consider the factors relevant to the re-entry process for those who have offended and how to enhance this
-
The equilibrium domestic abuse behaviour change and healthy relationships programme: a service description and evaluation framework Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-06-07 Dafydd Thomas, Megan Stevens, Jason Davies
Purpose Domestic abuse (DA) is a major issue with serious psychological, social, societal and economic impacts. Consequently, there has been an increased focus by policymakers and multiple statutory and third-sector agencies on addressing harms associated with DA and fostering healthy intimate and domestic relationships. This paper details the development and implementation of a whole family approach
-
Risk formulation in forensic practice: a review of the evidence Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-06-02 Emma Tarpey, Zoe Stephenson, Richard Barker
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review the evidence base for the use of risk formulation in forensic practice settings. Design/methodology/approach Systematic literature review principles were adopted to identify literature exploring risk formulation in forensic practice settings in relation to offending behaviour. Findings Data were analysed using a narrative synthesis approach, and commonalities
-
Hyperfocus and offending behaviour: a systematic review Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-04-26 Rachel Worthington, Suzanne Wheeler
Purpose Hyperfocus (HF) is characterised by an intense state of concentration/focus. The purpose of this study is to explore in what ways HF has been found to contribute towards offending behaviour and what treatments have been found to be efficacious to reduce offending behaviour where HF was a contributing factor. Design/methodology/approach The systematic review was performed according to the recommendations
-
Pilot evaluation of the electronic monitoring scheme in the UK Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-04-26 James William Churchman, Susan Baron, Michelle Carr, Donna Orr
Purpose Following research into the application of Electronic Monitoring (EM), Criminal Justice Order (2016) no. 954 was published, which introduced EM for offenders leaving custody in England and Wales (Ministry of Justice, 2016). EM was later extended to include those subjected to release on temporary licence (ROTL). The purpose of this study is to be the first, to the best of the authors’ knowledge
-
“Influencers” – a study investigating the messages people receive about coercive control on social media Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-04-19 Ruby Haase, Rachel Worthington
Purpose Coercive control (which is a form of intimate partner violence [IPV]) is a significant public health concern affecting millions of people throughout the world. Whilst exposure to IPV in childhood and adolescence has been shown to contribute to the intergenerational transmission of IPV, this alone does not explain IPV. A range of bio-psycho-social factors contribute to IPV which includes exposure
-
Brain science in American courts: the culpable neurotransmitters Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-03-17 Janet K. Brewer
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse how novel homicide defences predicated on contemporary neuroscience align with legal insanity. Design/methodology/approach Doctrinal analysis, systematic investigation of relevant statutes and cases, was used to elucidate how the law of insanity is evolving. Cases represent the first recorded instance of a particular neuroscientific defence. US appellate
-
There and back again: staff and service user perspectives on readmission to a secure mental health hospital Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-03-17 Maria Whittaker, Andy Cook, Marisa Marrocco, David Osborne
Purpose Readmission to hospital can be distressing, costly for the National Health Service (NHS) and legally it should be a last resort as it entails restriction of liberty. This study aims to develop an understanding of factors leading to readmission for a cohort of service users under the care of a community forensic mental health team (CFMHT) in England to consider how support could be improved
-
Mothering and desistance from high-risk drug use amongst women in Malta: an evolved grounded theory study Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-03-15 Claire Camilleri, Marilyn Clark
Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore and theorise about the desistance process of Maltese mothers who previously used drugs. The study unpacks how initial and continued desistance from high-risk drug use (HRDU) is impacted by being a mother within the Maltese context and identifies contingencies for desistance and examines how they are negotiated along the desistance pathways. Design/methodology/approach
-
The Secure Quality Involvement (SeQuIn) tool: benchmarking co-production in secure services Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-03-15 Mick McKeown, Charlotte Byrne, Holly Cade, Jo Harris, Karen Wright
Purpose Secure mental health services in one UK region have acted within a network to develop a range of involvement practices. A new quality benchmarking tool has been created to appraise the implementation of these involvement practices. The purpose of this paper is to report upon a qualitative evaluation of this development. Design/methodology/approach Staff and service users involved in the co-production
-
“It’s the discharge and what comes after that” – a phenomenological analysis of peer support workers’ lived experiences of transitioning from psychiatric care Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-03-06 Kristina Brenisin, Mc Stephen Padilla, Kieran Breen
Purpose Transition from inpatient mental health care to community living can be very difficult, as people are at an increased risk of suicide, self-harm and ultimately readmission into hospital. There is little research conducted exploring peer support workers’ (PSWs) lived experiences that could provide insight into the key transitions of care, particularly the support required after discharge from
-
Challenges in determining whether youth with autism spectrum disorder have been sexually abused: implications for forensic interviewing Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-03-06 Meredyth Goldberg Edelson
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to educate forensic interviewers about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and tools for interviewing youth with ASD when there are concerns of child sexual abuse (CSA). Design/methodology/approach Research is reviewed to discuss risk factors for CSA in youth with ASD, why CSA is often not recognized and research-based strategies for forensically interviewing youth with
-
Transforming a specialist community service model for working with men with sexual convictions and personality difficulties Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-02-13 Jackie Craissati, Ophelia Phillips, Caitriona Higgins
Purpose The purpose of this discussion paper is to describe the transition over the past five years of a highly specialist group treatment programme to a tiered public health delivery model within the offender personality disorder (OPD) pathway. The focus of this journey of transformation has been the Challenge programme, currently the only OPD specialist service for men with sexual convictions in
-
Factors influencing the assessment of witnesses in juridical contexts: a literature review. Legal, civil and psychological implications Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-02-08 Antonio Iudici, Miriam Stefano, Davide Binato
Purpose This study aims to provide an overview of studies concerning bias in law, particularly in judges’ decisions. The authors intend to bring to light the factors that can most frequently lead to unequal decisions to enable judges to better perform their function. Design/methodology/approach A literature review was used as a methodology based on studies involving judges and juries. Findings The
-
Relationship between forensic vigilance and personality traits, work experience, burnout symptoms, workplace stress and satisfaction in forensic mental healthcare professionals Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-01-26 Maartje Clercx, Marije Keulen-de Vos, Leam A. Craig, Robert Didden
Purpose Forensic mental health care is a unique field that poses complex demands on professionals. Forensic vigilance is a hypothesized specialty of forensic mental health professionals, allowing them to meet the complex demands of working in forensic settings. Forensic vigilance consists of theoretical and experiential knowledge of mental disorders, theory of offending behavior, the criminal history
-
Use of debriefing following restrictive practices in forensic psychiatric care Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2023-01-20 Jaana Asikainen, Katri Vehviläinen-Julkunen, Eila Repo-Tiihonen, Olavi Louheranta
Purpose Inpatient violence is a substantial problem in psychiatric wards and de-escalation is difficult. When managing instances of violence through verbal techniques fail, mental health-care staff may use restrictive practices. The Six Core Strategies and debriefing exist for managing violence and restrictive practices in different mental health settings. Debriefing is used to get patients’ views
-
A pilot study assessing initial psychometric properties of “the risk insight scale” Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2022-12-09 Gareth Hickman, Antonia Morris
Purpose This paper aims to report on the development of a psychometric measure of insight, The Risk Insight Scale. This measure is intended to assess the insight and understanding of individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) who engage in offending and/or risky behaviour. The measure assesses insight in two domains: insight into offending and/or risky behaviours and insight into the need for
-
Evaluation of prisoner experiences during their engagement with the self-change programme Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2022-11-24 Kara Kennedy, Stephan McAlpine
Purpose Previous difficulties were identified with the evaluation of violence interventions, resulting in gaps in the literature regarding the effectiveness of violence interventions. This study aims to contribute towards addressing the gap in the evaluation of violence interventions, by exploring the experience of prisoners who completed the self-change programme (SCP) during a 24-month period in
-
The introduction and development of a mental health integrated support unit within an English prison: clinical, care staff and operational officer perspectives Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2022-11-03 Norman Anthony McClelland, Toby Brandon, Wendy Dyer, Kathryn Cassidy, Louise Ridley, Paul Biddle
Purpose There is clear evidence that prison can be detrimental to mental health and that wider society has tended to assume “out of sight, out of mind” for prisoners in mental distress. The lack of access to effective mental health care in prisons along with increasingly lower numbers of prison officers, or Operational Officers (OOs), has created a negative culture that requires the development of
-
Forensic vigilance in forensic professionals: development, reliability and factor structure of the forensic vigilance estimate Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2022-10-31 Maartje Clercx, Robert Didden, Leam A. Craig, Marije Keulen-de Vos
Purpose Forensic vigilance is a central competency that forensic professionals need to meet the complex demands of working in forensic settings. Until recently, no instrument for forensic vigilance was available. This study aims to develop a self-assessment tool of forensic vigilance for individuals and teams working in forensic settings, and investigated its psychometric properties. Design/methodology/approach
-
The development of the ERICSO – a proposed instrument for internet child abuse material offender assessment Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2022-10-18 Catherine Garrington, Sally Fiona Kelty, Debra Rickwood, Douglas Boer
Purpose There are a limited number of risk assessment tools relevant to the internet child abuse material (I/CAM) offender cohort. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new tool, the “Estimated Risk for Internet Child Sexual Offending” (ERICSO). The ERICSO has been developed to assist in the treatment and prevention of sexual crimes against children. Design/methodology/approach The ERICSO was
-
Delivering remote therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study with service users accessing a community personality disorder service Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2022-10-11 Jasmin White, Anne-Marie Nillo, Kathryn Rowsell, Victoria Roberts, Duncan Dudley-Hicks, Michael Urbasch, John Cordwell
Purpose The purpose of this study is to qualitatively explore the views and opinions of service users accessing remote therapy through a community forensic personality disorder service during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative exploratory approach was adopted. Nine community forensic service users accessing virtual/telephone therapy through a community forensic mental
-
The challenge to survive: trauma, violence and identity in the lived experience of homeless women Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2022-09-13 Holly Price, Emily Glorney
Purpose To understand how females who had recently been street homeless made sense of their lived experience, seven women engaged in semi-structured interviews. This study aims to provide an insight into the complexities of the gendered homeless experience, while using theories of trauma and victimisation to propose a new approach to understanding the cycle of female homelessness. Design/methodology/approach
-
Clinicians’ perceptions of virtual reality for firesetting Journal of Forensic Practice (IF 0.6) Pub Date : 2022-08-05 Katie Sambrooks, Lona Lockerbie, Shahid Majid, Theresa Gannon
Purpose Virtual reality (VR) is a novel technology that could be used in the assessment and/or treatment of deliberate firesetting. This study aims to develop an understanding of clinicians’ views of VR for deliberate firesetting, to identify areas where VR could potentially add value to current practice and any particular barriers to using VR in this context. Design/methodology/approach Through an