Prison Disciplinary Processes and Restorative Justice – An Opportunity to Challenge Coercive Communication Patterns?

• In Event: Restorative Justice in Prison

Abstract

This paper explores how a restorative justice approach could be incorporated into the prison disciplinary system and the potential benefits this might entail. Drawing on research conducted in the UK, this paper will examine how those who have amassed numerous prison misconduct charges perceive and react to the prison disciplinary process in comparison to a matched control group. The findings indicate that individual characteristics interact with interpersonal exchanges to trigger defiance. While the prison disciplinary system may punish people for misconduct, its ability to address the underlying motivations and problematic interpersonal exchanges giving rise to these incidents of misconduct appear limited. It is argued that the incorporation of a restorative justice approach into misconduct hearings may assist with unpicking these problematic interpersonal exchanges, helping to resolve tensions on prison landings, encourage people to think about the consequences of their actions and reduce future misconduct.

Author

• Michelle Butler, Queens University Belfast