HM Prison Service

Intensive Intervention Risk Management Service (IIRMS) is a time-limited enhanced level of input for those who are subject to probation service supervision and present with high risk and a likely personality disorder. In order to understand experiences of delivering or receiving this service and ways in which the service might address need or reduce risk, semi-structured interviews were conducted with all those providing the service ( n = 10) and participants who had accessed the service ( n = 9). Data were analysed using thematic analysis, first by group (provider or recipient) and then together. Themes concerning the ‘purpose of IIRMS’, ‘relational working’, ‘IIRMS experience’, ‘practical challenges’ and ‘outcomes’ were shared across the two participant perspectives whilst ‘engagement and change’ was unique to those accessing the service and ‘future directions’ to those providing the service. Addressing risk and promoting well-being requires an individual focus and flexibility and effective support and supervision for staff.

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Graph model for conflict resolution (GMCR) is an effective tool to solve conflicts, which determines the feasible states by modeling the conflict, and then analyzes the behavior of decision-makers (DMs) through stability analysis to find a solution to the conflict. This article studies the composite DMs (CDMs) and the heterogeneous behaviors of opponents in GMCR. Based on the social relationship between DMs, the social network is applied to analyze the individuals in CDMs and to identify the types of heterogeneous behaviors of DMs. Combining social network and aggregating operator, this article unifies the preferences of individuals in a CDM. Subsequently, an identification mechanism is designed to determine the kind of opponents’ heterogeneous behaviors. Then, the mixed stabilities are extended to hesitant fuzzy mixed general meta-rationality (HFMGMR) and hesitant fuzzy mixed symmetric meta-rationality (HFMSMR). The matrix representations of two stabilities are developed to analyze the equilibrium of conflicts. Finally, a conflict in pollution rectification of industry enterprises is analyzed to demonstrate how social networks can be applied to GMCR with CDM and heterogeneous opponents. Hesitant fuzzy mixed stability analysis reveals the influence of heterogeneous behaviors in GMCR. Different types of DM behavior lead to different equilibrium results, which is concluded in this article.

Segregation in prison is a highly researched area worldwide, however, gaps remain about the experience of individuals who reside in these units. This study was the first of its kind in the Scottish prison service (SPS). The study was exploratory, completed over two stages and used a mixed method observational design. In stage one, questionnaires were distributed to incarcerated males across eight prisons in the SPS. Questionnaires asked why participants were segregated, how they spent their time and how it felt. Responses ( n = 151) indicated participants used the segregation and reintegration unit (SRU) on multiple occasions and for significant periods of time. Participants spent their time thinking, watching TV, listening to music, and reading; few engaged in education. Most attributed negative emotions to their time in segregation, however, others felt happy ( n = 43, 29%), relieved ( n = 26, 17%), and safe ( n = 34, 23%). Responses informed the interview schedule in stage two. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven prisoners exploring their experiences of segregation, their routine, access to services/support and their views on what could be improved. Thematic analysis was employed. Interviews identified three overarching themes: impact of segregation on mental health, services and support, and reintegration.

Trauma screening is recommended for pregnant persons with opioid use disorder (OUD), but there is limited literature on screening results from buprenorphine treatment. This study's objectives were to 1) describe the types, and severity, of traumatic events reported and 2) evaluate the associations between trauma and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Baseline data from an ongoing trial were analyzed. Participants were 155 pregnant persons with OUD receiving, or enrolling in, buprenorphine treatment at one of 13 sites. The experience, and relative severity, of 14 high magnitude stressors were assessed with the trauma history screen. The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-29+2 was used to assess 8 HRQoL domains. Traumatic stressors were reported by 91% of the sample (n = 155), with 54.8% reporting a lifetime persisting posttraumatic distress (PPD) event and 29.7% reporting a childhood PPD event. The most prevalent lifetime PPD event was sudden death of a close family/friend (25.8%); physical abuse was the most prevalent childhood PPD event (10.3%). Participants with lifetime PPD, relative to no PPD, reported significantly greater pain interference ( P = 0.02). Participants with childhood PPD, relative to no PPD, had significantly worse HRQoL overall ( P = 0.01), and worse pain intensity ( P = 0.002), anxiety ( P = 0.003), depression ( P = 0.007), fatigue ( P = 0.002), and pain interference ( P < 0.001). A majority of pregnant persons enrolled/enrolling in buprenorphine treatment reported persisting posttraumatic distress with sudden death of close family/friend being the most prevalent originating event; clinicians should consider the impact that the opioid-overdose epidemic may be having in increasing trauma exposure in patients with OUD.

The genetic correlates of extreme impulsive violence are poorly understood, and there have been few studies that have characterized a large group of affected individuals both clinically and genetically. We performed whole exome sequencing (WES) in 290 males with the life‐course‐persistent, extremely impulsively violent form of antisocial personality disorder (APD) and analyzed the spectrum of rare protein‐truncating variants (rPTVs). Comparisons were made with 314 male controls and publicly available genotype data. Functional annotation tools were used for biological interpretation. Participants were significantly more likely to harbor rPTVs in genes that are intolerant to loss‐of‐function variants (odds ratio [OR] 2.06; p < 0.001), specifically expressed in brain (OR 2.80; p = 0.036) and enriched for those involved in neurotransmitter transport and synaptic processes. In 60 individuals (20%), we identified rPTVs that we classified as clinically relevant based on their clinical associations, biological function and gene expression patterns. Of these, 37 individuals harbored rPTVs in 23 genes that are associated with a monogenic neurological disorder, and 23 individuals harbored rPTVs in 20 genes reportedly intolerant to loss‐of‐function variants. The analysis presents evidence in support of a model where presence of either one or several private, functionally relevant mutations contribute significantly to individual risk of life‐course‐persistent APD and reveals multiple individuals who could be affected by clinically unrecognized neuropsychiatric Mendelian disease. Thus, Mendelian diseases and increased rPTV burden may represent important factors for the development of extremely impulsive violent life‐course‐persistent forms of APD irrespective of their clinical presentation.

Abstract PurposeThis study investigates whether men who engage in dual harm while imprisoned are disproportionately involved in committing misconduct during a 1‐year follow‐up period. It also examines whether dual harm is significantly associated with future involvement in misconduct, when other known risk factors for misconduct are considered, and whether this relationship varies depending on the type of misconduct examined.MethodsDrawing on the administrative records of 430 men who were imprisoned during the 1‐year follow‐up period, a combination of descriptive statistics and negative binominal regressions was used to analyse the data.ResultsRoughly one‐in‐four men engaged in dual harm while imprisoned and were responsible for over half of all misconduct incidents recorded during the follow‐up period. A significant relationship between dual harm, as well as violence‐only harm compared to no harm, and future involvement in misconduct was also observed even when other known risk factors for misconduct were considered but only for violent and disorder‐related misconduct, demonstrating this relationship varied by harm history and type of misconduct examined.ConclusionThese findings address previous gaps in knowledge, advancing our understanding of the relationship between dual harm and misconduct. Possible explanations for why, compared to no‐harm history, dual harm as well as violence‐only harm was only related to violent and disorder‐related misconduct are offered, alongside possible implications of this research for policy and practice.

PurposePrevious 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 HMP Shotts.Design/methodology/approachFive prisoners who completed the SCP at HMP Shotts were interviewed via a semi-structured interview to explore their experiences of engaging with this violence intervention. The data was analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), allowing the exploration and understanding of the subjective meanings of the experiences from the individual participants.FindingsInterpretation of the data resulted in the identification of three superordinate themes that were relevant to participant experience: change as a process, supportive group environment and perceived outcomes.Practical implicationsThese findings provide insight into prisoner experiences on SCP and contribute towards the evaluation of violence interventions. As prison-based interventions undergo a process of continued evaluation and re-accreditation, it is useful to understand the programme processes that enhance participant engagement and their learning experience, while also understanding the processes that may impede participant engagement and successful completion of violence interventions.Originality/valueAlthough there has been substantial research conducted on violence interventions, this research has aimed to address some of the gaps and previous difficulties experienced within the evaluation of violence interventions.

BackgroundOutbreak control measures during COVID-19 outbreaks in a large UK prison consisted of standard (e.g., self-isolation) and novel measures, including establishment of: (i) reverse cohorting units for accommodating new prison admissions; (ii) protective isolation unit for isolating symptomatic prisoners, and (iii) a shielding unit to protect medically vulnerable prisoners.MethodsSingle-centre prospective longitudinal study (outbreak control study), implementing novel and traditional outbreak control measures to prevent a SARS-COV-2 outbreak. The prison held 977 prisoners and employed 910 staff at that start of the outbreak.Results120 probable and 25 confirmed cases among prisoners and staff were recorded between March and June 2020 during the first outbreak. Over 50% of initial cases among prisoners were on the two wings associated with the index case.During the second outbreak, 182 confirmed cases were recorded after probable reintroduction from a staff member. Widespread testing identified 145 asymptomatic prisoners, 16.9% of the total prisoner cases. The cohorting units prevented re-infection from new prison admissions and the shielding unit had no COVID-19 infections linked to either outbreak.ConclusionsIdentifying and isolating infected prisoners, cohorting new admissions and shielding vulnerable individuals helped prevent uncontrollable spread of SARS-COV-2. These novel and cost-effective approaches can be implemented in correctional facilities globally.