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Clean jails 'could cut violence' | Clean jails 'could cut violence' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Clean prison cells and well-trained staff could cut violence among the UK's most dangerous inmates, a report to the British Psychological Society claims. | Clean prison cells and well-trained staff could cut violence among the UK's most dangerous inmates, a report to the British Psychological Society claims. |
Psychologist Dr Lorraine Johnstone found environmental factors hugely affected prisoners' behaviour. | Psychologist Dr Lorraine Johnstone found environmental factors hugely affected prisoners' behaviour. |
She identified risk factors at a Scottish jail which should help all prison and secure hospital staff. | She identified risk factors at a Scottish jail which should help all prison and secure hospital staff. |
They included staff experience, a prison's history of violent attacks and the physical state of jail cells. | They included staff experience, a prison's history of violent attacks and the physical state of jail cells. |
Traditionally, the scientific approach has been to identify violent factors in the prisoner Dr Lorraine Johnstone | Traditionally, the scientific approach has been to identify violent factors in the prisoner Dr Lorraine Johnstone |
Dr Johnstone said violence within secure hospitals and prison settings was a significant problem with far-reaching consequences for patients, prisoners, staff and visitors. | Dr Johnstone said violence within secure hospitals and prison settings was a significant problem with far-reaching consequences for patients, prisoners, staff and visitors. |
She said: "Traditionally, the scientific approach has been to identify violent factors in the prisoner - such as criminal risk factors and personality disorders. | She said: "Traditionally, the scientific approach has been to identify violent factors in the prisoner - such as criminal risk factors and personality disorders. |
"These are all very important, but our approach would say other influences have got to be looked at too. | "These are all very important, but our approach would say other influences have got to be looked at too. |
"For instance, what does the place look like? Are patients being put in wards and cells with damp dripping down the walls or with worn carpets? | "For instance, what does the place look like? Are patients being put in wards and cells with damp dripping down the walls or with worn carpets? |
"And is there a history of violence in the institution? These can have an effect on prisoners' behaviour." | "And is there a history of violence in the institution? These can have an effect on prisoners' behaviour." |
Dr Johnstone, an honorary research fellow at the Centre for the Study of Violence at Glasgow Caledonian University, will present her criteria - named Prism (Promoting Risk Intervention by Situational Management) - at the British Psychological Society's Scottish Branch annual conference in Perth. | Dr Johnstone, an honorary research fellow at the Centre for the Study of Violence at Glasgow Caledonian University, will present her criteria - named Prism (Promoting Risk Intervention by Situational Management) - at the British Psychological Society's Scottish Branch annual conference in Perth. |
Identify risks | Identify risks |
She said studies at Glasgow's Barlinnie prison had shown that once a larger range of assessments were used to control violent prisoners, the number of aggressive incidents reduced sharply. | She said studies at Glasgow's Barlinnie prison had shown that once a larger range of assessments were used to control violent prisoners, the number of aggressive incidents reduced sharply. |
Prism has been piloted in a number of prison establishments since, and has been found to identify risks as well as areas for good practice, she added. | Prism has been piloted in a number of prison establishments since, and has been found to identify risks as well as areas for good practice, she added. |
Dr Johnstone said she hoped the scheme could eventually be used by other facilities. | Dr Johnstone said she hoped the scheme could eventually be used by other facilities. |
She added: "Hopefully we will have a systematic risk assessment trial that can be used by institutions to develop their services." | |
The two-day British Psychological Society conference closes on Saturday and will be attended by about 100 experts. | The two-day British Psychological Society conference closes on Saturday and will be attended by about 100 experts. |
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