Participatory Action Research: Actions to Improve Communication and Collaboration in Belgian Prisons

Activiteit: Talk or presentation at a conference

Description

As two new prisons opened in Belgium (Haren and Dendermonde), a Participatory Action Research (PAR) project was initiated in 2023 to identify the needs of various stakeholders. In addition to the establishment of the two new prison facilities and their subsequent scaling-up, several innovative detention principles, including the adoption of digital platforms, a badge system for incarcerated persons, new responsibilities for prison staff aligned with the implementation of functional differentiation for prison officers, and semi-open regimes were introduced.

While PAR consists of three fundamental principles Participation, Action, and Research, this presentation focuses on the research results and actions. This study integrates the viewpoints of incarcerated persons, personnel from service and activity providers, and prison staff through the utilization of surveys and interviews. We will provide a succinct overview of the main research findings, emphasizing the need for enhanced communication and increased collaboration in prison. In response to identified needs, experiments were initiated in 2024 as part of the action phase.
Periode12 sep 2024
EvenementstitelEuropean Society of Criminology: Criminology goes East
EvenementstypeConference
Conferentienummer24
LocatieBucharest, Romania
Mate van erkenningInternational