Responding to repetitive, non-suicidal self-harm in an English male prison: staff experiences, reactions, and concerns

Marzano, Lisa ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9735-3512, Adler, Joanna R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2973-8503 and Ciclitira, Karen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7222-0334 (2013) Responding to repetitive, non-suicidal self-harm in an English male prison: staff experiences, reactions, and concerns. Legal and Criminological Psychology . ISSN 1355-3259 [Article] (doi:10.1111/lcrp.12025)

Abstract

Objectives.
This study considers how those who work in prisons are affected by and
respond to repetitive self-harm of male prisoners. The perspectives of correctional staff are often overlooked in research that considers self-harming prisoners. As prison staff have regular, potentially daily contact with prisoners who self-harm, it is important to consider the ways in which they respond to this aspect of their job, both in terms of their
own and prisoners’ well-being.

Design.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with prison staff and explored
using techniques of thematic analysis.

Methods.
Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with 30 correctional staff – 15 custodial officers and 15 health care staff – to explore their experiences, responses to, and ways of coping with non-suicidal, repetitive self-harm.

Result.
Findings indicate high levels of frustration, tensions between health care and custodial staff, feelings of powerlessness, and low sense of job control.

Conclusion.
We set the tasks of prison staff within the wider contexts of work-stress
literature and forensic practice. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of prisoner and officer well-being, secure custody, and the potential limitations both of institutional resourcing and the methodology employed within this study.

Item Type:	Article
Research Areas:	A. > School of Science and Technology > Psychology A. > School of Science and Technology > Psychology > Applied Health Psychology group A. > School of Science and Technology > Psychology > Forensic Psychology Research Group
Item ID:	11850
Useful Links:	Middlesex University Expert Profile Middlesex University Expert Profile
Depositing User:	Joanna Adler
Date Deposited:	11 Sep 2013 12:45
Last Modified:	29 Oct 2019 10:19
URI:	https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/id/eprint/11850

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