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Welcome to the EuroPris Knowledge Management System. The table below shows questions and responses from European National Agencies. Select a question for more information or use the filters on the left to narrow down questions based on Agency or Category.
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Introduction: The Prison Safety Strategy Team are trying to understand how different settings have implemented trauma informed practice and the lessons they have learned through this. The aim of the evidence gathering will be to reach a conclusion about whether trauma informed practice is viable in the adult male estate. Trauma informed practice is an approach to health and care interventions which is grounded in the understanding that trauma exposure – experiencing circumstances which are harmful or life threatening - can impact on individual’s well-being and behaviour. By considering the impact of trauma in policy development and in how we engage with prisoners we are exploring how we can create a safer environment for prisoners and staff, with more effective services.
Trauma, itself, is not considered a variable and/or factor to be specifically considered in the design of interventions. The things to be considered are the dynamic factors that led to the comission of crimes.
Has trauma informed practice been implemented in any prisons and if so how?We have developed protocols for the welcome of prisoners in prison, just to avoid first bad effects of inprisonment. We have, of course, protocols for the prevention of suicide, we have implemented therapeutic and respectfuls units, but not on the idea of trauma as we usually underdstand it. We do have, for instance, programmes for women who have been victms of gender-based violence, and obviously trauma is considered, but it is not at the core of any intervention.
How is trauma considered in the supervision and support for staff?This is not considered so far. There are protocols to avoid agressions and harmful actions by prisoners, but not in the way the question is asked.
Has any trauma informed practice in your prison or justice system been evaluated? If so, can you share this?No, so far.
Traumatic experiences are taken into account in the treatment and care of inmates and are incorporated into the interventions and psychotherapeutic treatment. This requires an indi-vidual approach and, depending on the severity of the trauma, an adapted pace.
Has trauma informed practice been implemented in any prisons and if so how?In Austrian prisons, there is no implementation of a single trauma-informed approach. Rather, the treatment of trauma by experts (primarily psychotherapists) is specifically tailored to the inmates.
How is trauma considered in the supervision and support for staff?The topic is taken into account in supervision and further training for staff.
Has any trauma informed practice in your prison or justice system been evaluated? If so, can you share this?-
It is not incorporated as such. Nonetheless, the individual counselling organised by the regional governments in prison can be oriented at the treatment of traumatic life events. Trauma in early childhood in prison population is significantly high as found in scientific research 1 and recently demonstrated in Belgian prison population (sample of prisoners who followed the anger management program in four Belgian prisons) scoring high at the ACE questionnaire 2 Attention for the treatment of trauma is essential since its correlation with recidivism and drug abuse. Moreover 9 in 10 of the persons addicted to drugs have trauma. But at the same it is acknowledge that the prison environment is counterproductive (stress-producing circumstances)3, consequently, hampering trauma treatment. In the Belgian prison system, a policy of change is set forward where the responsibility of the prison officer is redesigned by differentiating its tasks (new detention model). Two different functions of prison officers, significantly influencing day to day relationship with the prisoner are defined. The first focussing on dialogue and daily communication with the prisoner as accompanier to prepare the reintegration from the first day of incarceration (detention facilitator). The second is oriented at intervening in case of incidents with prisoners and supervising of the prison security, building and its premises (security assistant). This change together with the small-scale detention introduced in the Belgian prison system, indirectly create a prison environment more suitable for treating trauma in prison population. Moreover, the reduction of collateral consequences of incarceration causing traumatic experiences in prison, is promising. Concerning trauma informed practice with inmates I can tell you that the Belgian Prison Service doesn’t use specific instruments or tools concerning this practice as far as working with inmates is concerned. This doesn’t mean that trauma isn’t taken into account when working with inmates and preparing their reintegration in society. The Psychosocial Service of the prison and the services of the communities responsible for welfare and wellbeing of prisoners work with the trauma principle when preparing the inmate for release in society. footnotes 1. Allely, CS & Allely, B., (2019) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in incarcerated populations : current clinical considerations and recommendations; Huinan et al (2021) Trauma exposure and mental health of prisoners and ex-prisoners: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, Volume 89. 2. https://compassionprisonproject.org/childhood-trauma-statistics/; internal report of Transition, Justice et Dialogue, 2022 3 Brinkley-Rubinstein (2013) Incarceration as a catalyst for worsening health. Health and Justice 1:3.
Has trauma informed practice been implemented in any prisons and if so how?Insight into traumatic events in childhood is a subject discussed in anger management programs. Since 2022 the implementation of these programs is started in Belgian prisons (phased rollout) Insight into traumatic events in childhood is a subject discussed in drug programs.
How is trauma considered in the supervision and support for staff?/
Has any trauma informed practice in your prison or justice system been evaluated? If so, can you share this?Yes, as part of the anger management program, cf supra and footnote: sample of prisoners who followed the anger management program in four Belgian prisons (internal report). Next to the confirmation of high prevalence of trauma in prison population, prisoners report high degree of satisfaction with the program and declare to have gain insights into their behaviour and its relation with childhood traumatic events. Yes, as part of the drug programs. Prisoners report high degree of satisfaction with the program and declare to have gain insights into their behaviour and its relation with childhood traumatic events, beneficial to change their actual (drug related) behaviour
Today, we do not have a specific national program designed with interventions for prisoners that have experienced trauma. However, since trauma and PTSD are overrepresented in offenders we are aware that many of our behavioural interventions need to be adjusted to the status of the client according to the RNR model (Risk, need and responsivity- Andrews and Bonta).
Has trauma informed practice been implemented in any prisons and if so how?There is no specific national trauma practice implementation in any prison, but the local psychologists have in their mission in healthcare to diagnose and treat PTSD based on well-being and to stimulate responsivity to reduce risk of recidivism.
How is trauma considered in the supervision and support for staff?The Correctional Service applies psychological first aid as lay support to victims after a potentially traumatic event. Psychological first aid is an adapted approach to help people immediately after serious events occur. The method is based on interventions are adapted to both severity and individual reaction patterns. The educated conversation leaders in crisis support must therefore have a great awareness and sensitivity to the needs of different individuals needs. The overall aim of the Correctional Service's crisis support is for the organization to minimize the risks of psychological distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in personnel who have been exposed to traumatic events at work. The training specifically aims to provide knowledge on how to best support colleagues who have been exposed to various incidents that can be potentially traumatic.
Has any trauma informed practice in your prison or justice system been evaluated? If so, can you share this?No national evaluation
Trauma as such is not considered.
Has trauma informed practice been implemented in any prisons and if so how?Prison staff are aware of the backgrounds and vulnerabilities of prisoners in their care. Staff providing psychological assistance to prisoners receive basic training on post-traumatic stress disorder.
How is trauma considered in the supervision and support for staff?n/a
Has any trauma informed practice in your prison or justice system been evaluated? If so, can you share this?n/a
When a prisoner enters the prison or the Latvian Prison Hospital (hereinafter referred to as the Prison Hospital), he/she is fully examined, including for abrasions, bruises and other signs of trauma, and old injuries acquired outside the prison are also recorded. The attending physician shall record the injury in an injury log and complete an "Trauma Sheet" describing the inmate's complaints, the circumstances of the trauma (in the inmate's own words), the local status and objective assessment of the health condition, and a photographic record shall be taken. After the completion of the 'Trauma Sheet', a 'Report Sheet' is filled out, addressed to the Prison Governor, that includes the name of the prisoner, the year of birth, the time of trauma and whether there was bodily injury or self-aggression. The report is passed on to the Prison Governors’s Assistant Warden on duty and the "Trauma Sheet" is placed in the inpatient or outpatient medical record. All injuries sustained in prison are recorded and the prisoner is given the necessary medical attention.
Has trauma informed practice been implemented in any prisons and if so how?Prison establishments have implemented resocialization programmes developed within the framework of the European Social Fund project "Improving the effectiveness of the resocialization system": "I am aware" - the target group of the programme are prisoners and sentenced persons with a history of suicidal behavior. The aim of the programme is to promote self-regulation of emotions, thoughts, behavior, mindfulness and interpersonal skills among prisoners, reducing the risk factors for suicidal behavior. "I know, I can, I do: a guide to a haven of peace"- the target group of the programme are sentenced inmates who have been victims of violence (emotional, sexual, physical) before entering prison and/or have suffered violence in prison. The aim of the programme is to promote awareness and to strengthen and develop self-regulation skills in inmates, reducing the impact of experiences of violence and the manifestations of violent behavior. Among other things, guidelines have been drawn up for the Prison Administration and prison establishments for the prevention of suicidal behavior of prisoners, which lay down the procedure for the implementation of measures for the prevention of suicidal behavior of prisoners.
How is trauma considered in the supervision and support for staff?The Prison Administration shall guarantee payment for elective surgery for officers with special ranks if the trauma or illness limits the officer's physical capacity to perform his/her duties or if the impairment is related to an accident at work. A course of medical rehabilitation following an accident trauma at work, injury or surgery shall also be covered. Prison officers have the possibility to apply for individual counselling with specialists of the Psychological Support Unit of Ministry of the Interior Health and Sports Centre.
Has any trauma informed practice in your prison or justice system been evaluated? If so, can you share this?N/A
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Within 30 days from the prisoner’s admission to prison in order to serve a prison sentence, a psychologist conducts a psychological examination of the prisoner, which is aimed at establishing a medical history and individual characteristics of the prisoner relevant for determining the prognosis of the risk behaviour of the prisoner in the conditions of prison sentence execution (risk of escape, the risk of violent behaviour towards prisoners, prison officers, civil employees and towards oneself), as well as the determining the prerequisites for the participation of the prisoner in resocialisation, edifying and educational programmes necessary to reduce criminogenic risks. Within these aspects, the specificities of the prisoner's behaviour and actions arising from unprocessed traumatic experiences are also identified. These are then, according to the needs of the prisoner, processed primarily individually during psychological and psychotherapeutic interviews with the prisoner. At the same time, the prison staff are advised of specific treatment procedures in this regard and are also alerted to possible triggers. The occurrence of acute manifestations such as vivid and unpleasant memories of the traumatic event, symptoms of extreme arousal (e.g. exaggerated startle reactions, irritability, concentration and sleep problems) or conversely, emotional inhibition (e.g. inability to experience feelings, narrowing of interests or social isolation) are intervened by, depending on the severity of the manifestations, either psychological or psychiatric interventions. Chronic manifestations of the prisoner are taken into account when placing them and, on the proposal of a case manager, psychologist or psychiatrist, such prisoners are placed in a specialised treatment unit. In such unit, the size of the group, as well as the regime and organisation of activities are adapted to the prisoner's personal characteristics, psychological state and treatment. The treatment of individual prisoners takes into account the severity of their diagnosis and psychological state and based on that, a programme of intensive therapeutic and educational care is applied. In doing so, special-educational, counselling and therapeutic methods, group and individual forms of work are applied.
Has trauma informed practice been implemented in any prisons and if so how?Depending on the identified risk level of adverse emotional or behavioural experience, the prisoner is placed in one of three risk groups. With a person who has been identified as low risk, more frequent targeted interviews are carried out, communication (written, verbal) and a status in the group is monitored and a psychological service is provided, if necessary. Persons identified as medium risk shall be provided with targeted and systematic psychological services according to a programme set and shall be monitored at irregular intervals of no more than 30 minutes. Persons showing signs of acute psychological decompensation shall be subject to continuous monitoring of the movements and activities in the cell or room designated for that purpose by the CCTV system (with the exception of the toilet and shower area) and shall be provided with psychiatric care in order to overcome the current crisis condition at the psychiatric ward of the Prison hospital
How is trauma considered in the supervision and support for staff?Crisis intervention and post-traumatic intervention care are provided to the prison officer or civil employee in order to mitigate the effects of the traumatic event, especially in the area of inadequate experience and behaviour of the prison staff (e.g. fear, anxiety, apathy, depression, aggression, panic reactions), to prevent psychological disorders or illnesses, and to restore psychological health and psychological fitness. Psychological education shall be provided to explain the need for regular mental hygiene, to prevent psychological breakdown due to excessive psychological stress, the possible development of psychological disorders, drug and substance abuse, and to eliminate negative relationships and conflicts, manifestations of undisciplined behaviour and problematic performance of tasks by prison staff. In case of interest and necessity, a psychological counselling shall be provided to prison staff, which shall be focused on the service, work and personal problems of the prison officer or civil employee, and it may be supplemented by a psychotherapy where appropriate. The prison service shall create appropriate conditions for the provision of psychological care to prison staff, and no prison member or civil employee shall be disadvantaged in any way in his/her service with regard to the use of psychological services.
Has any trauma informed practice in your prison or justice system been evaluated? If so, can you share this?No.