Prison as transformative – why

this view persists amongst prisoners

Marguerite SchinkelUniversity of Glasgow…..soon

Introduction

• Repeated finding qualitative studies: “prison has changed me’’(e.g: Aresti 2010; Barry 2006; Burnett 2004; Comfort 2008; Crewe 2009)

• Often ascribed to ‘having time to think’• Comfort 2008: these views held in absence of

any meaningful rehabilitative intervention• Farrall & Calverley (2006): transformative

power of prison is dangerous myth perpetuated by criminologists

Introduction

• Examine why prisoners speak of prison as transformative

• Under what circumstances?• What predictive power does tranformation narrative

have?

• Based on narrative research with long-term prisoners (12 at end of sentence, 9 on license)

Transformation story told by three men at end of sentence

• Because as I say, I really think things are going to be different this time. Whereas before I have known (.) I have maybe said they’re going to be different, but I KNEW. I knew it wasnae like-, but this time things ARE different, eh? Just, it’s not a case of thinking it, I KNOW they are different. I don’t want to be in this life no more. (Colin)

• Makes me, makes me in a good way feel now, looking back, that maybe the best thing was that I have done this sentence , now my eyes are open and I come out with a different attitude and a different aspect and look at things different, you know? And really, to go from 18 and now I’m going out, 24, I’m going about with my eyes open, I’m not going to be running about like a daft wee boy, out in the street drinking, stealing cars. (Gordon)

Why?

• Josselson (1995): ‘in understanding ourselves, we choose those factors of our experience that lead to the present and render our life story coherent’.

• Maruna (2001) ‘the present “good” of the reformed ex-offender must be explained somehow through biographical events’.

• While still in prison: have to explain future likelihood of desistance

Under what circumstances?

• Only told by those with offender identity

• ‘Non-starters’ (Burnett 2004): First sentence (in a long time) – no need to explain a change: ‘stability narrative’ (Presser 2008).

• Only told by those with few resources upon release

• Those with resources (family support, employment, money) – no need for imprisonment to explain future desistance.

• Eeehm, and (.) what I’m gonna do is, once I’ve got all this license and things out of the way, I’m going to relocate to Canada ... So eehm, I’m kind of lucky, I mean (.) when I was a bit younger, I invested some money in some like flats and stuff in Aberdeen and rented them out, then I was lucky enough to get the timing of it right, you know, I sold before the property bubble burst and stuff, so it’s not like, I mean, I have, I have resources to go out to. (Alex)

• They often attributed their desire to desist to maturation.

Under what circumstances

• Only told by those with a desire for desistance

• Some others: institutionalised, prison as home and resigned to future of offending and imprisonment.– No need for a transformation story

Ian: I’m that used to being in here myself, nae pressure, with nae pressure, nae hassle, and then going out with a wean screaming all the time. You know what I’m talking about, it’s just (3).

M: So has prison sort of become normal life for you?Ian: Aye. It’s easy isn’t it? You know where you stand don’t you? M: So what is the meaning of a prison sentence for you now

then?Ian: A break, sometimes. (2)

Subjective factors• Some tried to tell transformation story, but did

not maintain coherence• Aye, I think I’ve changed, you know what I

mean, I really do think I have changed. I think this sentence has opened my eyes up to a lot of things. Just, the way I look at life, stop being selfish, stop thinking about myself all the time. I’ve got a wee/ I’ve got a family, I’ve got a wee girl, you know, I just want to make things different for her, I want to give her an upbringing, a better upbringing than I did, y’know? (Graham)

• I hope to get my life sorted, but they can/ they just keep on putting me in hos/ it’s not going to work. Something will happen, I’ll do something again, y’know. (Graham)

• Might be due to interview factors

• BUT Graham’s story not ABOUT transformation in same way.

• I’m hopefully/ I will manage outside, no, I’m definitely going to do it. (Gordon)

Predictive power?

• In some ways similar to redemption scripts (Maruna 2001)– ‘super’ agency to overcome obstacles

– optimism

BUT

– Desistance redemption scripts?

Predictive power?

• Giordano et al (2002)– For desistance need:

• Openness to change• ‘Hooks for change’, which ideally provide blueprint for

new life

• Imprisonment provides no blueprint• Giordano: the real play of agency is in the

middle of continuum of (dis)advantage• Do James, Gordon & Colin have sufficient

resources?

Possible future....• Interviews with 9 men on license:

– Isolated self to reduce chances of further crime & punishment

– Institutionalised

– Frustrated with lack of progress towards goals

• I don’t go out anymore. I don’t like going into pubs, because it’s just too crowded, it’s too much going on, I don’t like/ I’m always watching my back, I cannae concentrate on certain things. It’s (.) it's horrible, it’s no a nice thing. (Mohammed)

• Like I was saying, the thing that’s really frustrating me the noo is no being able tae get a job and it’s so, so annoying, so frustrating honestly it’s just (.) it feels like everything’s just wasted, every bit of my sentence, every effort I’ve made after it just, pffff, been a waste o’ time that’s what it’s starting tae feel like. Pretty scary. (Andy)

• Without progress, desistance is ‘knifing off of social world’, rather than ‘making good’

• Is this what happens in absence of a ‘blueprint’ for desistance?

• Is this sustainable?

• How can we create blueprints for new identities?

Questions/suggestions?

• margueriteschinkel@gmail.com