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Should we use a direct regulation to implement the Healthy Prisons Agenda in England? A qualitative study among prison key policy makers

Ismail, Nasrul; de Viggiani, Nick

Should we use a direct regulation to implement the Healthy Prisons Agenda in England? A qualitative study among prison key policy makers Thumbnail


Authors

Nasrul Ismail



Abstract

© The Author 2017. Background The Healthy Prisons Agenda seeks to reduce prisoners' health risks, balance prisoners' rights with a security regime, ensure equivalent prison health service provisions to community health services, and facilitate the whole-prison approach. There is an established assumption that legislation will ensure better implementation of health promotion programmes. This study aimed to examine whether a legislative framework, via a direct regulation, could lead to enhanced implementation of the Healthy Prisons Agenda in England. Methods A qualitative study design was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 30 key prison policy makers in England. Findings Our findings contradict the established assumption that legislation improves the implementation of health promotion programmes. A direct regulation was perceived as restrictive, manifesting excessive compliance and encouraging a risk-averse culture, whilst preoccupation with security, order and discipline amongst prison governors and custody staff was deemed an internal institutional barrier to implementing the Healthy Prisons Agenda. External barriers included diminishing resources, lengthier or delayed sentencing, and an unsympathetic public and political stance towards prisoner rehabilitation. Conclusions A direct regulation should not be used to operationalize the Healthy Prisons Agenda. Rather, self-regulation, along with proactive solutions for the identified barriers to implementing the Agenda, is the most appropriate path forward.

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Aug 15, 2017
Online Publication Date Aug 31, 2017
Publication Date Jan 1, 2018
Deposit Date Sep 3, 2017
Publicly Available Date Aug 31, 2018
Journal Journal of Public Health (United Kingdom)
Print ISSN 1741-3842
Electronic ISSN 1741-3850
Publisher Oxford University Press (OUP)
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 40
Issue 3
Pages 598-605
DOI https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdx116
Keywords direct regulation, healthy prisons agenda, healthy setting, law, prison
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/861315
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdx116
Related Public URLs https://academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/article/doi/10.1093/pubmed/fdx116/4098862/Should-we-use-a-direct-regulation-to-implement-the?guestAccessKey=9b36b01a-f5c1-41cf-a546-54995efe9158
Additional Information Additional Information : This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Journal of Public Health following peer review. The version of record Ismail, N. and de Viggiani, N. (2017) Should we use a direct regulation to implement the healthy prisons agenda in England? A qualitative study among prison key policy makers. Journal of Public Health. pp. 1-8. ISSN 1741-3850 is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdx116.
Contract Date Sep 3, 2017

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