This book uses empirical data gathered using ethnographic methods in two contrasting prisons to provide a rare insight into death and dying in prisons in the UK. The majority of deaths in prison custody in England and Wales result from natural causes, yet the experiences of people dying in prison and the impact of these deaths on the wider prison are under-researched areas. It provides a novel insight into the impact of deaths from natural causes on the prison as an institution and challenges existing work juxtaposing occupational philosophies of ‘care’ and ‘control’. It also identifies how end of life care is provided in prisons and the impact this has on culture and relationships shows how deaths from natural causes in prison custody ‘soften’ prison regimes, culture and relationships. It speaks to an international audience by drawing on the global literature including from the US.
Author(s): Carol Robinson
Series: Palgrave Studies in Prisons and Penology
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 241
City: Cham
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Contents
1 Introduction
Background
Rationale and Aims
Personal Story: Insider Status
Boundaries and Definitions
Prison Culture, Regimes and Relationships
The Study
The Prisons
The Hospitals
Five Prisoners
Data Collection
Outline of the Book
References
2 The Carceral Geography of Death and Dying in Prison Custody
The Physical Environment of the Prison Wing
Prison Healthcare Centres
Prison Palliative Care Suites
Hospitals and Hospices
Expectations of Location and Understandings Derived from Location
The Rarity of Release to Die at Home and the Desire for a Better Setting
Conclusion
References
3 The Governance of Mortality
Authority
Custom and Cultural Expectations
Prison ‘Rules’
The Use of Restraints
Discretion and Dealing with ‘Rule-Failure’
Conclusion
References
4 Constructing the Dying Prisoner
Defining Expectations of Death and Dying in Prison Custody
Dominant Status: ‘Prisoner’, ‘Patient’ or ‘Person’?
Seeing the ‘Prisoner’
Stigmatized Individuals
Security Considerations and Prison ‘Rules’
The Deprivation of Autonomy
Seeing the ‘Patient’ or ‘Person’
Sympathy
Constructing the Family Man: The Influence of a Prisoner’s Family
Conclusion
References
5 Caring at the End of Life in Prison Custody
The Caring Culture
‘Heroic’ Care Talk
The Community Around the Dying: Caring Relationships?
Trying to Make Death “as Good as It Could Be”
The Practical Limitations of Care
The Implications of Security Considerations
Adjusting the Regime
Medical Confidentiality and Dealing with DNR
Conclusion
References
6 Evaluating End of Life Care in Prison Custody
The Ideal of ‘Equivalence’
Constructing Care as ‘Better’ in Prison
Constructing Care as ‘Worse’
The Expectation of Investigation
Conclusion
References
7 After a Death
Constructing the Dead Prisoner
The Status of the Dead Prisoner’s Body
Grievable or Not?
Caring for Those Affected
Caring for the Family
Providing, Receiving and Not Receiving Support in the Prison
Memorialising the Dead
The Place of Death in the Prisons’ Culture
Conclusion
References
8 Conclusion
Key Questions
Factors Determining Response to Dying Prisoners
Impacts of Deaths from Natural Causes on Prison Regimes, Culture and Relationships
Contribution and Impact
Limitations and Recommendations for Further Research
Final Remarks
References
Appendix: Researching Dying Prisoners
Ethical Issues in Researching End of Life
Risks to Participants and Researcher
Informed Consent
Anonymity
Confidentiality
Data Storage
Ethical Approval
Ethics in Practice—Ethically Important Moments
Conclusion
References
Glossary
Index
