The role of music programmes in English women’s prisons

Dr Laura Caulfield, Head of ResearchSchool of Society, Enterprise & Environment Bath Spa

University

IAFMHS conference, June 2014

Learning Objectives

(1) Understanding of the role of 'alternative' interventions in English criminal justice; (2) Consideration of the potential relationship between the arts and desisting from crime; (3) Exploration of role of music with vulnerable and 'hard to treat' women in prison.

What do we know?

• Many offenders re-offend on leaving prison• Prisons aim to reduce individuals’ risk of reoffending • Many prisoners find it difficult to engage• Other needs?

Women in prison

Key issues/needs • Problems with coping & mental health• Lack of self-efficacy• Educational needs

Caulfield (2012), National Offender Management Services (2013)

Music: The Good Vibrations project journey...

• One week course, full-time• Around 15 participants/project• No musical background required• Learn how to play traditional pieces of gamelan music and

create group compositions• Learn about Indonesian culture and associated art-forms• Culminates in a concert to which staff, friends, family members

and other may be invited• Participants are given a CD recording of the concert to keep

Background to the work

• Promoting Positive Change; Wilson, Caulfield & Atherton (2008)

• Continuing Positive Change; Caulfield, Wilson & Wilkinson (2010)

• http://artsevidence.org.uk/

The research

• Effects on participants: coping; education & training; emotional, psychological & behavioural; self-efficacy

• 2 women’s prisons• 25 women (age 21-51) • ‘Difficult to manage/high-need’• Observation, group, and one-to-one follow-up

interviews (3 months)• Project participants and staff

Findings• Individual gains: Group-work and communication skills –

reported as previously lacking for many; Self-reported decrease in aggressive incidents; Expression, focus, and coping. Space; Self-efficacy – through improvements in confidence and achievement; Respect for facilitators as professionals key to success

• Engagement• Towards desistance? • Prison/CJS/practitioner gains• New research directions: increasing the evidence base

‘everyone deserves a chance’

• Thanks• Questions?

l.caulfield@bathspa.ac.ukTwitter: @laurascaulfield

Caulfield (2012): https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/dspace-jspui/handle/2134/10178Reports & publications discussed today (& more): http://bathspa.academia.edu/LauraCaulfieldNew video: https://www.artsalliance.org.uk/ESRC-Seminar-Series