AN EXPLORATION INTO THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF TRANSITIONING FROM PRISON INTO THE COMMUNITY FOR MALE EX-PRISONERS IN SCOTLAND
Abstract
This study explored the experience of transitioning from prison for male ex
prisoners in Scotland, focusing on the factors influencing this, and the
support received in prison. This study utilised a generic qualitative
methodology, partnering with a charity to interview 4 participants. It was
found that the nature of locations could have implications for occupational
participation in the transition. Additionally, participants noted the
importance of avoiding locations, describing this in relation to drug use. It
was inferred that avoiding locations could be instrumental in the transition
for drug-addicted offenders. Another finding was the potential for
meaningful occupation in prison, arguing that offenders should be given
more choice in order for this to be realised. Furthermore, it was argued that
there should be more continuity of occupation in the transition. Another
finding was that the lack of occupational choice in prison could limit
offenders’ ability to make positive choices upon release.
Participants expressed an expectation of returning to high-risk behaviour,
and it is argued that this may be indicative of a criminal or addict self
identity. Furthermore, participants valued motivation, however it is posited
that an expectation of relapse may impede the role of motivation. An
interesting finding was that two participants declined support, leading to the
conclusion that services may benefit from an individualised approach to
increasing service engagement. However, two participants were ineligible for
support due to their sentence length, adding to the evidence base regarding
the challenges of short sentences. Findings also highlighted the role that
family can have in making the transition easier or more complex. The final
finding was that participants serving longer sentences, with a more rigid
routine, experienced difficulty maintaining a productive routine upon release.
It was concluded that they might have experienced institutionalisation, in
comparison those serving shorter sentences with less structure.