P R I S O N R E F O R M T RU S T
1ST NIGHT IN CUSTODY
Improving the ways prisons support people when they first come in
Consent form The project
This project is a review of the help given to people when they first come to prison.The project is being carried out by the Prison Reform Trust.
Purpose of the interview
As researchers for the Prison Reform Trust, we are interviewing prisoners about their experiences of coming into this prison.We want to know about what help you were given, what worked well, what didn’t work, and how things could be improved. Confidentiality
We will not include any names of prisoners in any report on our interviews. However, the Prison Reform Trust researchers must inform prison staff if a prisoner says they are thinking of harming themselves or someone else, or if they tell us about criminal activity or any information about a child at risk. If something you say must be reported, then we will discuss with you how this will be done.
Names of Researchers
Jessica Jacobson, Kimmett Edgar, Nancy Loucks
Please tick the relevant boxes:
1. I understand why the researchers want to talk to me. 2. I have had a chance to ask questions.
3. I am taking part by choice and I know I do not have to. I also know that I can stop at any time, without giving any reason, without my parole, rights of care, or privileges being affected. All I need to do is tell the researcher if I want to stop. 4. I am also free not to answer any particular question put to me.
5. I understand that my name will not be included in anything PRT writes about this project.
6. I agree to take part in this project.
__________________ ___________ ___________________
Name of participant Date Signature
__________________ _________ ____________________
Name of researcher Date Signature
Interview Schedule
1. Approximately how long ago did you arrive at this prison? 2.When you came to this prison, were you …?
• Remanded
• Convicted but unsentenced • Licence recall
• Sentenced 3. [If sentenced]
How long is your sentence?
4.Were you ever in this prison before? How long ago?
5. Have you been in any other prisons before? How many times have you been in prison before? How long ago was the most recent before this?
6. Please can you tell me how old you are? 7.What is your nationality?
8. How would you describe your ethnic origin? [e.g. white, Asian, black, mixed etc]
9. How were you feeling during the time when you first came to this prison?
10.When you first came in, was there anything about this prison that you were thinking about or worried about?
• [Prompt:What were you thinking about or worried about?]
11.When you first came in, was there anything to do with what you had left outside that you were thinking about or worried about?
• [Prompt:What were you thinking about or worried about?] 12. I will read a list of things you might have been worried about. Please tell me if you were not worried, a little or very worried about each one: Problem
Money worries Had no tobacco Getting your property
Needing protection from other prisoners Letting family know where you are
Organising care for children/other relatives Finding out if family are OK
Helping family arrange visits Feeling low; upset
Needing someone to talk to Loss of transferred property Housing problems
Coming off drugs Alcohol problems Health problems Any other
[space for added comments]
13. During your first two days in the prison, did you have any thoughts about harming yourself or suicide?
• [If yes] What kind of thoughts? What happened?
• [If yes, prompt:] What kind of help were you given, and by whom? • Do you need more help? Of what kind?
15.When you came into the prison, did you spend time on the first night unit? [Make a note of local terminology]
• How many nights did you spend there? • Who did you talk to there?
• What help did you get?
• Did the help or advice resolve the problems? How? • Would you have wanted any more help?
• Was there anything about the first night unit that could have been done better? 16. [prisons working with pact only] Did you get any help from pact workers [explain if needed]?
If No:
• Do you know the people from pact? If Yes:
• What help did you get from pact?
• Would you have liked any more help from pact?
• Did it make any difference to you to be talking to people who were not prison officers?
• What difference did it make?
17. Did you get any help from Insiders [explain if needed]? • Please explain how they helped.
18. [comparison prisons]
Would it have made a difference to receive help/advice from people who were not prison staff?
• If yes, how would this have made a difference?
19. Based on your experience of coming to this prison, do you think that new prisoners should be given more help or advice? Please say what kind of help or advice.