The Social Ecology of Violence and Safety in Prisons

Session Submission Type: Pre-arranged Panel

Abstract

This session brings together papers from the projects ‘The Social Ecology of Violence in Prisons’ and ‘Safety in Women’s Prisons’. Both projects are multi-site investigations of experiences of safety and violence in prisons in the Netherlands. The first project (2023 – 2027) focuses primarily on men’s prisons. It addresses questions such as ‘why do violent prison incidents occur?’ So far, interviews have been held with 46 prison managers, 24 (formerly) incarcerated men, and 23 prison employees. The second project (2023 – 2024) focuses on safety in women’s prisons. It draws from observations in 3 prisons and 124 interviews with incarcerated women and members of staff. Together, the findings from these projects yield new insights in the multiple meanings of violence and safety for different actors, and contextual factors that contribute to experiences of safety and incidents of violence. While a comparison between prisons for men and women is not the main aim of this session, the presentations will bring to light interesting differences and commonalities. This also raises questions about normative assumptions and expectations about men’s and women’s behaviour.

Subtopic

• Topic 5: Social Control and Criminal Justice / Imprisonment, Prisons, Prison Life and Effects of Imprisonment (Prisons WG)

Chair

• Esther van Ginneken, Leiden University

Individual Presentations

• Making sense of violence in men’s prison - Rozalie Lekkerkerk, Leiden University; Esther van Ginneken, Leiden University; Dante Hoek, Leiden University

• The meaning of safety and experiences of boundary violations in women’s prisons - Yara Abbing, Leiden University; Esther van Ginneken, Leiden University

• A situational approach to understanding violent conflicts among men in prisons - Dante Hoek, Leiden University; Ard Barends, Leiden University; Esther van Ginneken, Leiden University; Maarten Kunst, Leiden University

• Serious and organized crime from prison: A new security paradigm in prison management? - Esther van Ginneken, Leiden University