Prison anti-drug treatment in a women’s prison : prescribed and negotiated identities

• Besides increased security measures and control, anti-drug treatment programs have dramatically expanded in Swedish prisons the last ten years. Today nearly 800 of the 5000 places in Swedish prisons are intended for anti-drug treatment. This paper addresses the institutional effects of this transition in the case of a women’s prison with a treatment wing. Data have been collected during 2012-2013 by documents, observations and interviews with staff and prisoners, as part of a Nordic research project. The prison has for many years run a 12-steps (AA/NA) program in one wing, with external full-time therapists running groups in the wing daily. Prison officers are actively participating in the groups. Preliminary findings indicate that the prison officer identity, as well as the prisoner identities, are challenged and changing in the treatment setting, while the borders to other wings arestrengthened. Within the treatment wing, prison officers are moving between the traditional prison officer role, and the role of ”co-therapist”, and this seems more awkward for the minority of male staff. The female prisoner identity is moving between the "Traditional Prisoner", the "Conscious Addict” and the "Good Friend", all depending on the situation. A conclusion is that this is an opportunity, but also a source to diffusion, for the prisoners.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Sociologi -- Socialt arbete (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Sociology -- Social Work (hsv//eng)

Keyword

prison

women

anti-drug treatment

identity

Social Work

Socialt arbete

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)