Skip to main content

The specific needs of foreign national prisoners and the threat to their mental health from being imprisoned in a foreign country

Barnoux, Magali F.L., Wood, Jane L. (2012) The specific needs of foreign national prisoners and the threat to their mental health from being imprisoned in a foreign country. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 18 (2). pp. 240-246. ISSN 1359-1789. (doi:10.1016/j.avb.2012.11.012) (KAR id:35383)

Abstract

Foreign national prisoners represent an increasingly significant and vulnerable proportion of the prison estate in England and Wales, accounting for 13% of the population in custody (Prison Reform Trust, 2010). They are ever present in the Safer Custody statistics, accounting for nearly a quarter of self-harm incidents and self-inflicted deaths (HM Inspectorate of Prisons, 2009). Recent Inspectorate Reports (2006, 2007, 2010) and a handful of research studies outline the lack of support facing many foreign national prisoners, in terms of language problems, social and cultural isolation, family support, immigration uncertainties and diversity issues. This paper reviews the current context of the foreign national prisoner population in England and Wales, paying particular attention to their experiences, specific needs, and potential threat to their mental health from being imprisoned in a foreign country. We then offer suggestions as to how these issues can be addressed by reviewing existing initiatives and making recommendations for future research.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.avb.2012.11.012
Uncontrolled keywords: Prisoners, Ethnicity, Needs, Isolation, Mental Health
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User: Jane Wood
Date Deposited: 03 Oct 2013 16:27 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:12 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/35383 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.