Abstract
Background: Growing scholarly and policy interest in prisons has raised questions about how to operationalise and evaluate carceral spaces to ensure they are safe, secure and promote rehabilitation and reintegration. Understanding how custodial units operate is critical. However, there is a dearth of published research into the functioning of mainstream prison units in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). An independently established description of a custodial unit strengthens the understanding of organisational dynamics, operating principles and specific operational requirements for effective custodial unit performance.
Objective: This is a qualitative exploratory case study into the features of a male voluntary segregation residential prison unit at a NZ Prison (‘the unit’). The research aims to answer the following questions about functioning: what tools, division of labour, rules, community of practice and outcomes shape the organisation and management of a NZ custodial unit? And what aspects of the custodial unit activity system are in tension and impact on its functioning?
Methods: Prison life is complex, so this research is a systemic bicultural qualitative exploratory case study informed by Cultural Historical Activity Theory and Kaupapa Māori Research principles and practices. This approach ensures that the research reflects indigenous values, avoids deficit framings and enables a holistic understanding of the organisational and social features of the prison unit. 16 professionals from various roles participated in semi-structured interviews. Interviewees also provided supplementary policy or process documents where relevant.
Findings: The research identified that the unit is consistently identified as a well-functioning residential custodial unit that achieves good outcomes. It also identified various systemic tensions and contradictions. It further identified a number of contributing elements, which are summarised as sets of features within frameworks of the operation of ’the unit’ and the practice of the custodial team.
The features of operation of ‘the unit’ include: (1) The purpose and population; (2) Characteristics of the location; (3) Unit team staffing status; (4) The Unit Standards (5) A working unit providing meaningful work opportunities (6) Programs, services and calendar events program (7) Proactive Individuals and Te Rūnanga (Committee), and (8) Custodial team ways-of-working. For custodial team practice; (8a) E Waka Eke Noa - Setting and maintaining the Standards collectively; (8b) Whānaunga - Communicating in a humanising way; (8c) Kanohi ki te Kanohi - Face to face interactions in the compound; (8d) Monitoring & Investigation; (8e) Whakapapa & Whānau Connections; (8f) Growth & Opportunity Mindset; (8g) Tuakana Teina - Mentoring; and, (8h) Collaboration with other site staff.
The research also highlighted complex features of ‘the unit’ as an activity system and how they are synergistic and act collectively to influence multiple outcomes through multiple layers of interconnection and amplification. A further finding is that the unit operation is resilient and has the ability to rebound from disturbance and transformation over lengthy periods of time.
Conclusions: This study has highlighted characteristics of complexity and enabled the creation of new plain language frameworks of key practices and elements of good function and outcomes in an NZ custodial unit.