Voices behind bars: Rehabilitation processes among broadcasters in prison radio
Fri, September 13, 2:00 to 3:15pm, Faculty of Law, University of Bucharest, Floor: Ground floor, Room 1.05Abstract
Multiple studies have indicated the highly stressful nature of prison life, whether due to the prisoners, most of whom have had a troubled life before incarceration, or due to the prison environment, and its negative effects on the inmates' physical and mental well-being. Radio Focus – a station operated by and for prisoners – was launched by the Israeli Prison Service in 2017 in a maximum-security prison facility. The station broadcasts 24/7 on a closed circuit to all criminal prisons in Israel, with contents including news and current affairs, economics, sports, health, and music. All programs are produced and edited by the prisoners employed at the station, with the help of external experts.
Its objectives are to promote cognitive and behavioral processes among its listeners and enable prisoners who work on the radio to express themselves creatively and practice normative social skills.
The present study is a qualitative-interpretive study in which 28 broadcasters prisoners were interviewed at two points: in the first month of their entry into the project and after about 10 months of working within the radio station.
Main findings: Broadcasters prisoners report changes they have undergone since their involvement in the radio in three aspects: a. internal change - positive self-concept, b. behavioral changes - persistence, increased participation in treatment programs, and avoidance of physical and verbal violence, c. interpersonal change - improvement in communication and relationships with family members, other prisoners, and prison staff.
Main Conclusions: The involvement in producing and broadcasting programs helps to deal with the pains of imprisonment and to improve perceived mental well-being.
The current presentation will display the initial findings and conclusions from the analysis.