The experience of delivering ‘Rehabilitative Adjudications’ in English prisons

ABSTRACT

The study examined the experience of delivering Rehabilitative Adjudications (RAs), a concept which explicitly integrates rehabilitative skills and procedural justice principles within a traditional disciplinary process for responding to rule-breaking in prison. Based on interviews with ten adjudicators, seven themes were identified. Overall, perceptions of RAs were positive, perceived to be a more constructive, rehabilitative, engaging and hopeful way to respond to rule-breaking, and in keeping with efforts to develop a wider rehabilitative prison culture. Existing adjudicator skills were reinforced through the training, and others developed for additional application in practice. A number of recommendations are made for organisations or prisons looking to adopt a RA approach, including suggestions to overcoming barriers that participants faced during the trial.

KEYWORDS:

• Rehabilitation
• prison discipline
• experience
• procedural justice
• rule-breaking

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 The Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) scheme was the system through which prisoners could earn additional privileges by demonstrating a commitment towards their rehabilitation, engaging in purposeful activity, reducing their risk of reoffending, behaving well and helping other prisoners and staff. In January 2020, the IEP scheme was replaced by the Incentives Policy Framework, which aims to better incentivise positive behaviour and gives governors greater flexibility to tailor incentives to local needs and challenges.