PRISM with Incarcerated Young People: Optical Illusion or Reflection of Reality?

Abstract

The PRISM process was used to assess the presence of situational risk factors for institutional violence in a juvenile custodial setting in the UK. As part of the assessment, interviews were carried out with staff and young people (aged 15 to 17) and records of violence on the unit over the previous two years were analyzed. Results revealed the presence of a number of situational risk factors for violence with differing levels of severity. A number of interventions were devised for the management of violence on the unit. The study provides support for the utility of PRISM within juvenile custodial settings.

Keywords:

• prison violence
• risk assessment
• situational risk factors
• structured professional judgment
• violence
• juvenile
• situational risk factors
• institutional violence
• institutional risk factors
• juvenile custodial settings
• environmental factors

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Corrigendum

¹The authors recognize the negative connotations associated with the use of the term “juvenile” and acknowledge that it is not a term endorsed by either the UK's Youth Justice Board, the authors, or G4S Care and Justice Services Limited. The term “juvenile” is used throughout this article purely to reflect the international readership and to provide clarity that this term refers to young people between 15 and 17 years of age. We would like to acknowledge the support and cooperation of the staff and management at HMP & YOI Parc during the course of this study. The findings and views presented in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of G4S Care and Justice Services Limited.

Notes

²This outcome may partly be explained by the Unit's expansion during the period assessed.