Maintaining Innocence (original) (raw)
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Psychological Effects of Wrongful Imprisonment & Incarceration
2020
Wrongful imprisonment as the name suggests best describes a legal situation where a person is convicted and incarcerated in connection with a crime that he or she has not committed. While statistics and surveys have shown a significant rise in the trend in the past two decades, not much has been discussed on the adverse psychological impact the victims face after they are exonerated. This paper reviews existing literatures and examines content of surveys conducted on exonerees by the Innocence project and other researchers, and draws a substantive background with available information on their life and mental experiences, post-prison. The research also identifies other notable factors that contribute to the challenge of wrongful convictions and imprisonment in the criminal Justice System. Accessing contents of various interviews and personal accounts, the research draws to the conclusion that psychological challenges are a significant problem for exonerees; and the outcomes are highly devastating. Proper Legislation is also proposed to create guidelines and establish clear policies on the issues that have been identified to mar the accuracy of the judicial system in delivering just judgments and reduce the risk of wrongful imprisonment.
The Pains of Imprisonment and Contemporary Prisoner Culture in Canada
The Prison Journal
Drawing on interviews conducted with former federal and provincial prisoners in Ontario, Canada, we consider how the unique social conditions in these two institutional contexts shape interpersonal dynamics and the prisoner experience. Despite notable differences in federal versus provincial prisoner culture, we suggest that prisoners in both contexts lived in environments marked by uncertainties and risk; in response, they tended to adapt to a highly individualistic orientation toward doing time. Based on our analysis, we complicate the conceptualization of prisoner culture as primarily serving an adaptive function, suggesting the prison social climate may actually drive the most salient pains of imprisonment.
2005
This study explores the experience of people who have been publicly declared guilty. It retells the narratives of offenders from the point of arrest through to conviction and, where relevant, imprisonment and release. The experiences of close relatives are also explored and provide an important part of the thesis. These accounts are set against the institutional context of the criminal justice system and a systemic account of police, courts, prisons and community corrections is provided. The main aim of the study is to investigate and document the impact of the criminal justice process on offenders' sense of 'self'.
2018
This project used a mixed methods approach to explore and describe the life experiences and the social situation of incarcerated young adults. By analyzing data from a unique survey that was administered to adult prisoners who were incarcerated in Nova Scotia's provincial correctional facilities in December 2015 and drawing on my observations of interactions and relationships between adults and young men from within various milieu, this thesis aims to contextualize and expand our understanding of the social position, and needs, of incarcerated young adult males. More specifically, this research explores a survey administered to adult prisoners in Nova Scotia and assesses for differences between young adults (18-25) and adults over 25 years of age in life experiences, family connection, and family contact during incarceration. At the center of this inquiry is the distinct developmental phase of young adults and the specialized needs associated with this age group. Against the backdrop of human development and research on crime patterns and penal practices, incarcerated young adults stand out as a population in need of advocacy and support because of an important intersection of circumstances. First, it has long been recognized that the majority of crime, including a large portion of violent crime is committed during adolescence and young adulthood. Second, conclusive research indicates that incarcerating people does not facilitate rehabilitation, increases the likelihood a person re-offends, and exacerbates trauma and mental health issues. Third the part of our brain that's responsible for rational thinking and mature decision making is not fully developed until our mid 20s. Findings suggest that young adults have higher needs on several dimensions, similar to juveniles. The discussion and recommendations presented in the last chapter support the proposal for changes in correctional practice with regard to this age group put forth by the Correctional Investigator of Canada in 2017. x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS USED YCJA-Youth Criminal Justice Act TAY-Transition Age Youth" or a term for 16-to-24 year olds who are transitioning into young adulthood. Phase of life is explicitly recognized as encompassing transformative undertakings such as vocational preparation, coupling, and identity/status formation and planning. CCSD-Canadian Council of Social Development CSC-Corrections Services Canada CFCN-Canadian Families and Corrections Network CFUYAP-Cyclic Flow and Uptake of Young Adults In Prison RJ-Restorative Justice RP-Restorative Practices CFCN-Canadian Families Corrections Network IIRP-International Institute for Restorative Practices EM-Urie Bronnefrennor's Ecological Model of Development UB SCE-socio-cultural ecological framework-focuses on the socio-cultural aspects of development and examines the various systems acting on the developing person as described in Bronfenbrenner's (1979) ecological model of development.
Forever Guilty: Convict Perceptions of Pre and Post Conviction
Current Issues Crim. Just., 2009
This study explores the experience of people who have been publicly declared guilty. It retells the narratives of offenders from the point of arrest through to conviction and, where relevant, imprisonment and release. The experiences of close relatives are also explored and provide an important part of the thesis. These accounts are set against the institutional context of the criminal justice system and a systemic account of police, courts, prisons and community corrections is provided. The main aim of the study is to investigate and document the impact of the criminal justice process on offenders' sense of 'self'.
Journal of Prisoners on Prisons, 2017
Upon being elected, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (2015) mandated the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Jody Wilson Raybould to review criminal justice laws, policies and practices enacted during the 2006-2015 period where successive Conservative federal governments were in power. Recognizing that the knowledge produced by prisoners, particularly when brought together with academic arguments, can serve to enlighten public discourse about the current state of carceral institutions, the Journal of Prisoners on Prisons undertook a Canada-wide consultation with federal prisoners with regard to what changes have occurred in the institutions where they have served time in the last decade. This paper, which summarizes that consultation, begins with an overview of the Conservative punishment agenda, followed with a thematic review of how these changes have affected prisoners and what they would like to see moving forward in the context of the governments promised review of the Canadian criminal justice system. Representing the captive from every region of the country at all security levels and privileging the voices of Women, Black, Indigenous, LGBTQ, and Elderly prisoners, the ten most prevalent areas of concern and reform that emerged include: sentencing, mental health, health care, food, prisoner pay, old age security, education and vocational training, case management and staff culture, parole and conditional release conditions, and pardons.