*Please note that the conference programme is subject to change. This may include speaker cancellations and last-minute speaker confirmations. If you are a speaker and cannot find your presentation listed, kindly check your email for any communications from us or contact us directly for assistance.
Tuesday 3 March
Early implementation reviews involving participants and staff describe Kimihia as deeply meaningful and transformative, helping wāhine (women) to understand the drivers of offending, regulate emotions, strengthen relationships, and reconnect with identity and whakapapa. Staff highlight the unique contribution of Māori worldviews and healing practices in building engagement, pride, and insight.
This presentation will share the journey of Kimihia’s design and early implementation, offering practical lessons and inspiration for those interested in the future of culturally grounded rehabilitation.
This presentation reports on the findings of an evaluation of the DFVIP which included data from the first four years of the program. Participants were compared with similar individuals who did not complete the program. Findings show that participants recorded a lower rate of proven and alleged domestic violence offences over an average four-year follow up period, as well as a significantly lower rate of generalised violent offending. The evaluation also showed that some of the psychometric measures recorded pre- and post-program completion showed promise as proxy indicators for elevated risk of post-treatment domestic violence reoffending.
Through semi-structured interviews (pūrākau), the research explores how mothers navigate parenting from prison, the impacts of separation, and challenges to reconnecting post-release. Preliminary findings reveal that maintaining a motherhood identity is an act of resistance, and that Te Ao Māori provides a critical anchor for resilience through practices like whakapapa and pūrākau. The study aims to generate tangible, mother-defined recommendations for Te Ara Poutama (the Department of Corrections) to better align its key strategies—Hōkai Rangi and Wāhine - E rere ana ki te pae hou—with the aspirations of mothers and whānau. By privileging these voices, the research offers a pathway to transform correctional practice in a culturally responsive and healing-informed way, aiming to break cycles of trauma and improve justice outcomes.
This research asks: what could effective support for men on remand look like in Aotearoa New Zealand? Through qualitative interviews with men currently and previously on remand, alongside professionals who work with them, the study explores lived experiences, key stressors, and what makes people more or less likely to engage with help. Using reflexive thematic analysis, the research highlights not only the harms of remand but also the opportunities to intervene.
The findings suggest new considerations for frontline correctional practice and point toward interventions that meet at the intersection of prisoner responsivity, psychological evidence, and operational feasibility. By centring the voices of men on remand and embedding bicultural frameworks such as Te Whare Tapa Whā, this project opens the door to “prehabilitation”: supporting people earlier in the justice process to reduce harm and build readiness for rehabilitation.
Each participant begins with a baseline assessment capturing their perceived current and desired future standing in each domain, along with an index score derived from ten items designed to reflect their actual current well-being. Guided by trained peer coaches—incarcerated individuals equipped with facilitation and coaching skills—participants use these results to build a personalized roadmap for growth that aligns with their own aspirations and values.
Developed in partnership with university researchers, The Dash centers lived experience leadership, empowerment, and co-production. The program cultivates self-determination, agency, and mutual accountability, enabling participants to take ownership of their progress and celebrate meaningful change.
In this presentation, I will share preliminary findings from the initial cohort, including baseline data and early insights into benefits, challenges, and implementation lessons. By centering empowerment and evidence-based practice, The Dash offers a humane, innovative approach to rehabilitation and well-being in corrections.
Preliminary insights suggest that rigid, highly structured prison systems often intensify difficulties with emotional regulation, attention, and impulse control, while failing to recognise or nurture neurodivergent strengths. This research contributes to a growing body of lived experience-informed inquiry and offers practical insights into how correctional environments can be adapted to better support neurodivergent youth. It highlights the need for trauma-informed, person-centred, and rehabilitative approaches that promote wellbeing, desistance, and inclusion.
The initiative builds on a rationalised suite of services structured around ten clusters of need, including cultural connection. It introduces generic service pathways for custodial cohorts and prioritises modular, short-duration programmes suitable for remand settings. Services identified for extension include AOD harm minimisation, Tikanga Māori programmes, vocational training, and reintegration support.
Implementation involved extensive engagement with site leadership to identify feasible service options, infrastructure constraints, and workforce needs. Legal and ethical considerations were addressed, particularly around consent and eligibility. Infrastructure upgrades and workforce uplifts were scoped to support delivery.
The presentation will share insights into system enablers and barriers, including security classification, infrastructure, and staff capacity. It will highlight the importance of balancing national consistency with site-level responsiveness and the role of cross-functional collaboration.
This initiative marks a significant shift in Corrections’ approach to remand, aiming to improve outcomes for individuals in custody and reduce reoffending through culturally responsive, evidence-informed rehabilitation.
Delivered as a ten-day intervention supplemented by post-release drop-in centers, PARAVAI combines de-addiction support, skill development, education, and family reintegration. Its implementation relies on trained facilitators, counselors, and psychologists, supported by minimal administrative staff across multiple locations in Tamil Nadu. Participants—mandated by judicial or police referral—engage in discussion, problem-solving, and case-based methods. Completion rates exceed 90%, with observed reductions in recidivism and re-enrollment in schools and colleges.
A distinctive feature is its reliance on Tamil cultural traditions and Gurukul-inspired methods. Sessions are conducted on the floor in circles, instructors are addressed with familial respect (annan/akka), and families are integral partners. The low-cost, culturally rooted model enhances accessibility and belonging while avoiding technology dependence.
PARAVAI’s success highlights how restorative justice, cultural integration, and community engagement can provide scalable, cost-effective strategies for reentry policy and correctional practice.
Findings revealed that over a third of the sample exceeded the psychopathy cut-off on the PCL:SV, suggesting an unusually high rate compared to international norms. Strikingly, 86.2% of the sample had prior convictions, and almost 80% had served multiple prison terms, highlighting entrenched patterns of offending. The research also uncovered moderate associations between elevated psychopathy scores and several well-established risk factors, such as poor educational and employment history, substance misuse, social detachment, and entrenched criminal attitudes. Even more pronounced were the links between higher psychopathy levels, non-compliance with treatment or correctional care plans, and increased institutional misconduct.
These findings not only mirror international research but also raise the possibility of cultural differences contributing to the particularly high incidence observed. The study underscores the pressing need for specialised, evidence-based interventions and correctional strategies tailored to this challenging population.
Join this session to gain fresh insights into the hidden dynamics of psychopathy in Malta’s prison system, its implications for rehabilitation efforts, and how this knowledge can shape more effective offender management practices moving forward.
The newest 2025 data from all three Finnish Smart Prisons—one women’s and two men’s—are presented here for the first time. They confirm earlier national findings: digital access supports well-being and rehabilitation but also shows continued need for digital skills training and staff engagement.
In contrast, research from traditional prisons shows barriers such as low digital competence, restricted autonomy, and limited trust (Järveläinen & Rantanen, 2020, 2025). Surveys highlight that self-efficacy, attitudes, and social support shape digital service use, while age reduces confidence (Rantanen, Järveläinen, & Leppälahti, 2021, 2022).
Finland’s Smart Prison model demonstrates how digitalization can transform rehabilitation and has become an internationally recognized good practice guiding similar projects in other countries.
Using a multiple case study design, the research explores stakeholder perspectives through semi-structured interviews and system-use demonstrations. Stakeholders include clients, case workers, case managers, supervisors, research analysts, and policy makers. Participants will perform real tasks using their respective data systems—Mi-Case (IDOC), Quest, and SRS (MCPD)—while articulating their experiences in real time. This contextual inquiry approach allows for a deeper understanding of daily workflows, data use, and system workarounds.
Key research questions focus on four areas: (1) how technology supports evidence-based practices; (2) the impact of mature systems on safety, programming, budgeting, and case management; (3) costs, timelines, and lessons learned from implementation; and (4) stakeholder-specific benefits such as improved service delivery, reduced administrative burden, and enhanced access to high-quality data.
By comparing two jurisdictions with different system maturity levels, the study provides practical insights for justice agencies considering technology investments. Findings will inform not only how systems shape stakeholder experiences, but also how mature data tools can promote safer, more efficient, and more responsive justice environments.
Join us to explore how the Uganda Prisons Service (UPS) is transforming rehabilitation and reintegration for offenders. Drawing on research across multiple prisons, this session highlights programs- ranging from vocational training and education to psychosocial and spiritual support-that have significantly reduced reoffending. Participants will gain insights into evidence-based strategies, practical challenges, and innovative approaches to strengthening aftercare and community reintegration. The presentation will also spark discussion on equitable program access, sustainable desistance, and building integrated systems to track long-term impact.
Eighty incarcerated male sex offenders participated in interviews conducted by 33 trained correctional professionals. Offenders completed treatment readiness ratings before and after interviews and rated the rapport levels with their interviewers after. Results showed that higher levels of perceived rapport were associated with significant increases in treatment readiness. Five themes of interviewer qualities such as a) Ensuring Professional Preparedness, Knowledge, and Competency, b) Protecting Safety and Rights, c) Maintaining Respect and Neutrality, d) Giving Attention, Support and Care, and e) Relating to Sexual and Cultural Identity demonstrated strong influence on treatment readiness.
Findings underscore rapport as a measurable and influential component of correctional practice, not merely a “soft skill.” Embedding rapport-building into assessment training can improve engagement, enhance needs identification, and strengthen pathways to rehabilitation. This study provides new evidence that how assessments are conducted matters as much as the tools themselves, with implications for practice, training, and policy.
8.30am – 8.40am NZDT
ICPA Welcome and Introductions
10.30am – 10.55am NZDT
Troubles Upon Troubles: The Impact of Childhood Maltreatment on Rehabilitation Outcomes in High-Risk Violent Offenders (PID010)
Troubles Upon Troubles: The Impact of Childhood Maltreatment on Rehabilitation Outcomes in High-Risk Violent Offenders (PID010)
Parallel Workshops
High-risk violent offenders often present challenges for rehabilitation, with lower engagement and completion rates. Responsivity—the “how” of the Risk-Need-Responsivity model—remains under-researched, particularly regarding the role of trauma. This study analysed data from 423 offenders in New Zealand’s Special Treatment Units. Childhood maltreatment was pervasive (82% experienced at least one type; many experienced multiple), and the number of maltreatment types significantly predicted poorer treatment progress and higher dropout. PTSD symptoms were not significantly related to outcomes, suggesting enduring effects of early trauma—not just current symptomology—undermine rehabilitation. Findings support integrating trauma-informed approaches into male offender programmes, echoing practices already applied with female populations.
Speakers
Erika Te Hiwi
10.55am – 11.17am NZDT
Process and Impact Evaluation of Special Treatment Units for Violent Offending in Aotearoa New Zealand (PID027)
Process and Impact Evaluation of Special Treatment Units for Violent Offending in Aotearoa New Zealand (PID027)
Parallel Workshops
This process and impact evaluation examines the effectiveness of the Special Treatment Unit – Violent Offending (STU VO) programme in reducing criminogenic risk and enhancing psychological functioning among high-risk violent offenders in Aotearoa New Zealand. The programme is grounded in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) model, and culturally responsive practice, aiming to support therapeutic change and reduce reoffending. Quantitative findings from a pre-post analysis of clinical and dynamic risk indicators showed statistically significant improvements in psychological functioning and reductions in dynamic risk following programme completion. To assess broader justice system impacts, a propensity score matched comparison of resentencing rates was conducted at 12- and 24-month follow-up intervals. Programme participants experienced 10% and 12% lower resentencing rates, respectively, compared to matched controls—approximately half the rate observed in the comparison group. These findings suggest meaningful effects at both individual and system levels, reinforcing the value of embedding outcome evaluations into programme delivery. The evaluation also highlights the importance of culturally responsive approaches, particularly for Māori participants, in achieving equitable and effective rehabilitation outcomes.Speakers
Effect of time spent conviction-free on recidivism risk for our sexual offending population in Aotearoa New Zealand (PID139)
Effect of time spent conviction-free on recidivism risk for our sexual offending population in Aotearoa New Zealand (PID139)
Parallel Workshops
The time-free effect is a measure of desistance that looks at how time spent conviction-free in the community impacts on someone's likelihood of reoffending. Individuals who have committed sexual offences are often subject to more intensive community supervision, especially if they are assessed as being at a high risk of offending at the time of their release. How long do they remain high risk for? When might we need to re-assess that risk, and the supervision they are subject to? A national cohort of 3,356 males, spanning 11 years of prison releases in Aotearoa between 2003 and 2013 was used to provide some answers to those questions.Speakers
Lucy Moore
Integrating Culturally Grounded Approaches into Women’s Rehabilitation Programmes in Aotearoa-New Zealand Prisons (PID074)
Integrating Culturally Grounded Approaches into Women’s Rehabilitation Programmes in Aotearoa-New Zealand Prisons (PID074)
Parallel Workshops
Kimihia is a culturally grounded rehabilitation programme for incarcerated women in New Zealand who are at high risk of reoffending. It weaves psychological approaches with Te Ao Māori worldviews (guided by Te Whare Tapa Whā) to create a gender-specific, trauma-informed, culturally responsive and supportive pathway to change. Delivered during approximately 8 months, Kimihia integrates group and individual therapy, whānau engagement, reintegration planning, and Māori healing practices including rongoā and romiromi.
Early implementation reviews involving participants and staff describe Kimihia as deeply meaningful and transformative, helping wāhine (women) to understand the drivers of offending, regulate emotions, strengthen relationships, and reconnect with identity and whakapapa. Staff highlight the unique contribution of Māori worldviews and healing practices in building engagement, pride, and insight.
This presentation will share the journey of Kimihia’s design and early implementation, offering practical lessons and inspiration for those interested in the future of culturally grounded rehabilitation.
Speakers
Trauma-informed Intervention with Justice-involved Aboriginal People (PID056)
Trauma-informed Intervention with Justice-involved Aboriginal People (PID056)
Parallel Workshops
Intergenerational trauma contributes to the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within Australia’s criminal justice system. Yet conventional criminogenic treatment frameworks, largely based on the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) model tend to inadequately address the relationship between trauma and offending behaviours. This presentation discusses the adoption of trauma-informed practices that incorporate principles of decolonial theory within contemporary rehabilitation strategies. We will illustrate our co-designed approach through examples of the ways in which these practices are applied in a South Australian program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander men who have convictions for violent crimes. Finally, the broader implications of adopting such trauma-informed methodologies for systemic reform and culturally responsive practice will be explored.Speakers
Chelsea Dunn
Shawn Sowerbutts
11.17am – 11.39am NZDT
An Evaluation of the South Australian Domestic and Family Violence Intervention Program (PID058)
An Evaluation of the South Australian Domestic and Family Violence Intervention Program (PID058)
Parallel Workshops
The Domestic and Family Violence Intervention Program (DFVIP) is a group-based offender rehabilitation program for eligible prisoners and offenders supervised by the Department for Correctional Services (DCS). The program targets men with a demonstrated pattern of domestic violence offending and is run in both custodial and community settings. The 120-hour program was developed by DCS and first commenced in 2020.This presentation reports on the findings of an evaluation of the DFVIP which included data from the first four years of the program. Participants were compared with similar individuals who did not complete the program. Findings show that participants recorded a lower rate of proven and alleged domestic violence offences over an average four-year follow up period, as well as a significantly lower rate of generalised violent offending. The evaluation also showed that some of the psychometric measures recorded pre- and post-program completion showed promise as proxy indicators for elevated risk of post-treatment domestic violence reoffending.
Speakers
Joel Calliss
Emma Ziersch
Doing Things Differently: A Human Services Approach to Registration and Community Risk Management for Sexual Offending (PID140)
Doing Things Differently: A Human Services Approach to Registration and Community Risk Management for Sexual Offending (PID140)
Parallel Workshops
This session focuses on the application of evidence-based policies and practice guidance to reduce recidivism. There is very little evidence internationally to demonstrate the effectiveness of registers in reducing sexual reoffending and in supporting authorities to monitor and manage risk. The New Zealand Register has adopted a novel human services, evidence-based approach to the monitoring and case management of individuals who have sexually offended against children. This session will provide an overview of the risk management framework (RMF) underpinning the Register, the collaborative approach adopted by New Zealand Police and the Department of Corrections when managing risk in the community, and its effectiveness in reducing recidivism outcomes. Implications for policy and practice will be discussed with respect to the importance of adopting evidence-informed approaches to community risk management.Speakers
Mackenzie Auld
Margaret-Anne Laws
Invitation for Growth: Women’s Perspectives on Responsive Engagement and Experiential Wellbeing as Service Users of the Kōwhiritanga Rehabilitation Programme within New Zealand Prisons (PID085)
Invitation for Growth: Women’s Perspectives on Responsive Engagement and Experiential Wellbeing as Service Users of the Kōwhiritanga Rehabilitation Programme within New Zealand Prisons (PID085)
Parallel Workshops
As the prevalence of women’s imprisonment rises, effective engagement with this highly vulnerable population is critical to mitigate the wide-ranging impacts on individuals, families, and society. Women serving prison sentences present with extensive psychosocial complexities and demonstrate distinct commonalities within background life histories and trajectories towards crime. These include elevated rates of trauma victimisation, mental health difficulties, substance dependence, and interpersonal relationships characterised by instability and dysfunction. Additionally, within New Zealand, the female prison population is predominantly wāhine Māori. Interventions targeted to address offending behaviour in women therefore must be responsive and to the multifaceted needs of this unique population.
The current study utilises an experiential qualitative methodology, and culturally responsive framework, to explore women’s experiences as participants of the Kōwhiritanga group-based offence-focused rehabilitation programme. The intention was to understand both enablers and barriers impacting the women’s capacity to effectively engage in the intervention, as well as post-programme impacts on wider lifestyle and wellbeing. Many themes raised by the participants align with women-centric intervention literature emphasising the importance of strengths-based, trauma-informed, and relational focused approaches. Findings also indicate that responsive practice within a prison setting must consider wider contextual impacts such as custodial staff and the physical environmental. Clinical implications for a targeted approach to responsivity in practice when engaging with women, and suggestions for sitewide integration and implementation, are highlighted.
Speakers
Alice Jakowitsch
11.39am – 12pm NZDT
Implementation of a Specialist Criminal Justice Role: A Collaborative Approach to Services for Offenders With Borderline Personality Disorder (PID121)
Implementation of a Specialist Criminal Justice Role: A Collaborative Approach to Services for Offenders With Borderline Personality Disorder (PID121)
Parallel Workshops
We are proud to showcase a unique and innovative role developed by BPD Collaborative and the collaborative approach to service implementation in South Australia over the last 5 years. The criminal justice role has resulted in new initiatives for offenders with BPD, including greater psychoeducation and greater access to evidence-informed therapies, including programs in custody and the community. Specialist services are provided to offenders with complex needs. For prison officers and other staff who support adults and young people with BPD, a suite of training and supervision has been implemented. Outcomes across all new services demonstrate promising outcomes and we hope to deliver further research soon.Speakers
Kimberley Gilson
Introducing Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) as a part of Norwegian Probation (PID154)
Introducing Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) as a part of Norwegian Probation (PID154)
Parallel Workshops
This session explores the introduction of Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) in Norwegian probation, a community- based model supporting individuals convicted of sexual offences in their integration journey. Piloted at the Oslo Probation Office, CoSA combines professional supervision with volunteer engagement to foster accountability, reduce isolation, and promote desistance. Presenters will share practical insights from implementing the first CoSA circle in Norway, including recruitment, coordination, and collaboration across sectors. The presentation will highlight how CoSA fits within the Norwegian Correctional Service’s holistic approach to rehabilitation and discuss key questions around adaptation, ethics, and the lived experiences of core members.Speakers
Maren Ziegler Riis
Katrine Fjørtoft
Nā te Whaea te whakaapa: Mā te Whaea te oranga o te whakapapa. Mothers are the creator of whakapapa: Mothers safeguard the wellbeing of whakapapa (PID113)
Nā te Whaea te whakaapa: Mā te Whaea te oranga o te whakapapa. Mothers are the creator of whakapapa: Mothers safeguard the wellbeing of whakapapa (PID113)
Parallel Workshops
In Aotearoa New Zealand, women are being incarcerated in greater numbers than has been seen before. wāhine Māori are profoundly over-represented, constituting 67% of the female prison population (Stats NZ, 2022). The vast majority of these women are mothers, for whom incarceration causes a traumatic separation from tamariki and a stripping of their core maternal identity. While incuding mothers from diverse backgrounds, this doctoral research is the first NZ study to centre the experiences of incarcerated Māori mothers. Utilising a qualitative, Māori-centred design, this study seeks to whakamana (uphold the dignity of) a the stories of mothers in navigating their maternal identity while in prison.
Through semi-structured interviews (pūrākau), the research explores how mothers navigate parenting from prison, the impacts of separation, and challenges to reconnecting post-release. Preliminary findings reveal that maintaining a motherhood identity is an act of resistance, and that Te Ao Māori provides a critical anchor for resilience through practices like whakapapa and pūrākau. The study aims to generate tangible, mother-defined recommendations for Te Ara Poutama (the Department of Corrections) to better align its key strategies—Hōkai Rangi and Wāhine - E rere ana ki te pae hou—with the aspirations of mothers and whānau. By privileging these voices, the research offers a pathway to transform correctional practice in a culturally responsive and healing-informed way, aiming to break cycles of trauma and improve justice outcomes.
Speakers
Grace Jessup
Does treatment work? Development of He Pou Tohutohu, an outcome measure for alcohol and other drug treatment programmes based in mātauranga Māori (PID120)
Does treatment work? Development of He Pou Tohutohu, an outcome measure for alcohol and other drug treatment programmes based in mātauranga Māori (PID120)
Parallel Workshops
Outcome is often defined as the impact on someone that is attributable to an intervention. Outcomes can be a measure of knowledge and skill transfer, improvements in health and wellbeing, functioning, improved connection and relationships, desistance or reduction in offending behaviour. Developing the right outcome measure metrics for a prison based AOD programme should consider what recovery looks like and what steps are needed to get there. He Pou Tohutohu is an intermediate outcome measure integrating Māori knowledge and experiences with what we know works in AOD treatment and offence focused approaches. This presentation looks at the development of He Pou Tohutohu, its implementation in this early stage of validation and potential implications for the adopting of informed evidence based practice.Speakers
Terry Huriwai
Fiona Conlon
2pm – 2.45pm NZDT
Rehabilitation: Evidence-Based Interventions and Outcomes (PID171)
3.15pm – 3.35pm NZDT
The exploration and development of a psychological intervention for males in a custodial remand setting (PID098)
The exploration and development of a psychological intervention for males in a custodial remand setting (PID098)
Parallel Workshops
Growing remand populations are a global issue for correctional services - one that Aotearoa New Zealand is not exempt from. Today, men on remand account for nearly half of those in prison, yet they remain one of the least supported groups in custody. They often arrive with significant vulnerabilities, including mental health difficulties, poor coping skills, and substance use histories. Once in custody, the uncertainty and isolation of remand compounds these challenges, but unlike sentenced prisoners, they are currently unable to access rehabilitative and psychological programmes. The result is an expanding group in a highly stressful environment with no dedicated support, increasing risks of distress, prison non-compliance, and recidivism on release.
This research asks: what could effective support for men on remand look like in Aotearoa New Zealand? Through qualitative interviews with men currently and previously on remand, alongside professionals who work with them, the study explores lived experiences, key stressors, and what makes people more or less likely to engage with help. Using reflexive thematic analysis, the research highlights not only the harms of remand but also the opportunities to intervene.
The findings suggest new considerations for frontline correctional practice and point toward interventions that meet at the intersection of prisoner responsivity, psychological evidence, and operational feasibility. By centring the voices of men on remand and embedding bicultural frameworks such as Te Whare Tapa Whā, this project opens the door to “prehabilitation”: supporting people earlier in the justice process to reduce harm and build readiness for rehabilitation.
Speakers
Jacob Snellaert
Empowering Change from Within: Enhancing Well-Being through Peer-Led Coaching (PID101)
Empowering Change from Within: Enhancing Well-Being through Peer-Led Coaching (PID101)
Parallel Workshops
What would happen if we empowered people on the inside to take charge of their own transformation—supported by peers walking the journey alongside them?
The Dash is a peer-led coaching and programming initiative designed to enhance holistic well-being among people who are incarcerated. Named for the space between birth and death on a tombstone, The Dash represents the choices and changes that define a person’s life. It invites participants to reflect on what matters most and supports them in setting and pursuing self-defined goals across six dimensions of well-being: physical and mental health, social, cultural, economic, educational, and emotional.
The Dash is a peer-led coaching and programming initiative designed to enhance holistic well-being among people who are incarcerated. Named for the space between birth and death on a tombstone, The Dash represents the choices and changes that define a person’s life. It invites participants to reflect on what matters most and supports them in setting and pursuing self-defined goals across six dimensions of well-being: physical and mental health, social, cultural, economic, educational, and emotional.
Each participant begins with a baseline assessment capturing their perceived current and desired future standing in each domain, along with an index score derived from ten items designed to reflect their actual current well-being. Guided by trained peer coaches—incarcerated individuals equipped with facilitation and coaching skills—participants use these results to build a personalized roadmap for growth that aligns with their own aspirations and values.
Developed in partnership with university researchers, The Dash centers lived experience leadership, empowerment, and co-production. The program cultivates self-determination, agency, and mutual accountability, enabling participants to take ownership of their progress and celebrate meaningful change.
In this presentation, I will share preliminary findings from the initial cohort, including baseline data and early insights into benefits, challenges, and implementation lessons. By centering empowerment and evidence-based practice, The Dash offers a humane, innovative approach to rehabilitation and well-being in corrections.
Speakers
Dr Kevin Wright
3.15pm – 3.45pm NZDT
Peer-Facilitated Trauma Programs: Outcomes from Multi-site Prison Research (PID080)
Peer-Facilitated Trauma Programs: Outcomes from Multi-site Prison Research (PID080)
Parallel Workshops
Despite the alarming rates at which justice-involved individuals experience trauma, there is great hesitancy to discuss and address trauma in prison-based programs for fear of re-traumatization and decompensation. Recently, a series of studies assessed the efficacy of trauma-specific interventions for incarcerated men and women. The quantitative results of these studies showed positive and consistent improvement in anger, aggression, and psychological well-being across multiple facilities, varying levels of custody, and models of delivery. This presentation will provide comprehensive information about the fundamental needs of justice-involved populations with histories of trauma, the implementation of gender- and trauma-responsive programs tailored to meet these needs, and the research supporting the efficacy of these services delivered in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The outcomes presented include rigorous studies on theoretically based programs such as: Healing Trauma: A Brief Six Session Intervention for Women, Exploring Trauma & Moving Beyond Violence: A Brief Six Session Intervention for Men, and Beyond Violence: A Prevention Program for Women and more. A Peer-Facilitated (i.e., residents serving long-term or life sentences) program model was implemented in each facility with oversight by a Program Coordinator. Given the aggregate negative impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) represented in the lives of justice-involved men and women, the fields of both corrections and treatment can benefit from research that identifies effective services that reduce the cycle of violence and abuse.Speakers
Dr. Nena Messina
“It’s Not Built for Us": Exploring the Lived Experience of Young Adult Male Prisoners Diagnosed with ADHD (PID050)
“It’s Not Built for Us": Exploring the Lived Experience of Young Adult Male Prisoners Diagnosed with ADHD (PID050)
Parallel Workshops
Despite increasing recognition of ADHD among incarcerated populations in Aotearoa New Zealand, limited research has explored how young adult male prisoners experience prison environments through the lens of neurodivergence. This study used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to investigate how incarcerated youth with ADHD perceive the impact of custodial settings on their ability to manage symptoms and express strengths associated with their diagnosis. Participants (aged 18–25) were recruited from Rimutaka and Hawke’s Bay Regional Prisons, based on confirmed ADHD diagnoses. Through semi-structured interviews, the research explored four key areas: perceived support for managing ADHD symptoms; the role of prison environments in exacerbating or alleviating challenges; staff knowledge and responsiveness; and the ways in which ADHD-related strengths are experienced and expressed.
Preliminary insights suggest that rigid, highly structured prison systems often intensify difficulties with emotional regulation, attention, and impulse control, while failing to recognise or nurture neurodivergent strengths. This research contributes to a growing body of lived experience-informed inquiry and offers practical insights into how correctional environments can be adapted to better support neurodivergent youth. It highlights the need for trauma-informed, person-centred, and rehabilitative approaches that promote wellbeing, desistance, and inclusion.
Speakers
Jessica Bruin
3.35pm – 3.55pm NZDT
Extending Rehabilitative Services in Remand: System Design, Implementation, and Practice Insights from Aotearoa (PID124)
Extending Rehabilitative Services in Remand: System Design, Implementation, and Practice Insights from Aotearoa (PID124)
Parallel Workshops
Ara Poutama Aotearoa has launched a nationwide initiative to extend rehabilitative and reintegrative services to remand prisoners, following amendments to the Corrections Act 2004 and a $78 million funding commitment. This presentation, co-delivered by Hayden Gray (Programme Manager Pae Ora) and Jessica Borg (Chief Psychologist/Director Programmes), outlines the strategic, operational, and ethical dimensions of this initiative, which is part of the Optimising Our Services (OOS) programme.
The initiative builds on a rationalised suite of services structured around ten clusters of need, including cultural connection. It introduces generic service pathways for custodial cohorts and prioritises modular, short-duration programmes suitable for remand settings. Services identified for extension include AOD harm minimisation, Tikanga Māori programmes, vocational training, and reintegration support.
Implementation involved extensive engagement with site leadership to identify feasible service options, infrastructure constraints, and workforce needs. Legal and ethical considerations were addressed, particularly around consent and eligibility. Infrastructure upgrades and workforce uplifts were scoped to support delivery.
The presentation will share insights into system enablers and barriers, including security classification, infrastructure, and staff capacity. It will highlight the importance of balancing national consistency with site-level responsiveness and the role of cross-functional collaboration.
This initiative marks a significant shift in Corrections’ approach to remand, aiming to improve outcomes for individuals in custody and reduce reoffending through culturally responsive, evidence-informed rehabilitation.
Speakers
Hayden Gray
Jessica Borg
A dual-continua model of trauma-informed intervention with justice-involved people (PID038)
A dual-continua model of trauma-informed intervention with justice-involved people (PID038)
Parallel Workshops
This presentation advocates for strengths-based correctional rehabilitation, emphasising the need for paradigm shifts in theory and research. It draws on practical experiences and insights from an upcoming book chapter on trauma-informed, strengths-focused interventions in forensic settings, using the dual-continua model to build psychological and environmental resources. Two examples illustrate this approach: the Inside Out Program at South Australia’s Department for Correctional Services, a positive psychology initiative for adult inmates, and Community Custody Visit Day in Victoria, a community-led program connecting juvenile offenders of African heritage with their cultural communities. We stress integrating strengths-based, trauma-informed strategies (centred on safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment) with traditional risk-focused methods to promote desistance. We also call for clear policies that allocate resources and support research for the development and sustained implementation of strengths-based practices in correctional settings.Speakers
Dr. Yilma Woldgabreal
Professor Andrew Day
Dr Chelsea Leach
Implementation of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) in Jails: Aligning Barriers and Strategies in the Quest for Acceptability and Feasibility (PID054)
Implementation of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) in Jails: Aligning Barriers and Strategies in the Quest for Acceptability and Feasibility (PID054)
Parallel Workshops
Implementing Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) in carceral settings is challenging and rife with implementation challenges including misinformation, stigma, and resource and safety concerns. However, vast evidence suggests MOUD (e.g., buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone) offer evidence based benefits to individuals that lessen substance use while also lowering overdose risk and reducing recidivism. As carceral systems adopt MOUDs they must strategize to overcome these barriers. These strategies must be targeted and responsive so that acceptability and feasibility challenges do not stifle MOUDs critical and live-saving efforts. This presentation uses a case study from one U.S. state to highlight how one system navigated these challenges with some success, but failed in other areas. Implications of this study are crucial for any carceral systems hoping to implement MOUD to improve the lives of their staff and residents exponentially.Speakers
Dr Danielle Rudes
3.45pm – 4.15pm NZDT
The impact of trauma on treatment outcomes in Australian offence-specific treatment (PID039)
The impact of trauma on treatment outcomes in Australian offence-specific treatment (PID039)
Parallel Workshops
It is well known that the prevalence of trauma is elevated in forensic cohorts, particularly those in prisons. Improved wellbeing outcomes with trauma-informed practices are well reported in clinical populations, with some preliminary findings indicating that adverse childhood experiences may impact negatively on treatment outcome variables in forensic populations. However, limited research has examined the impact of trauma on offence-specific treatment outcomes in an Australian forensic population. The current quantitative study aims to understand whether the presence, or level, of trauma compromises progress, or indicators of treatment change, in people who have undergone offence-specific treatment. Data from 162 men who underwent offence-specific treatment in prison was utilised to investigate this topic.Speakers
Dr. Julia Chan
From Intervention to Impact: Evaluating the PARAVAI Program for Young Offenders in Chennai, India (PID081)
From Intervention to Impact: Evaluating the PARAVAI Program for Young Offenders in Chennai, India (PID081)
Parallel Workshops
The PARAVAI Program (Personality and Attitude Reformation Assistance Venture for Affirming Identity) in Chennai, India, is an innovative diversion initiative for 18–24-year-old first-time petty offenders. Developed by the Prisoners Reforms Intervention Support Mission (PRISM), the program seeks to reduce recidivism and facilitate reform, rehabilitation, and reintegration (RRR). Its design rests on a collaborative framework engaging law enforcement, judiciary, corrections, community organizations, and families to view young offenders not as hardened criminals but as individuals requiring structured guidance.
Delivered as a ten-day intervention supplemented by post-release drop-in centers, PARAVAI combines de-addiction support, skill development, education, and family reintegration. Its implementation relies on trained facilitators, counselors, and psychologists, supported by minimal administrative staff across multiple locations in Tamil Nadu. Participants—mandated by judicial or police referral—engage in discussion, problem-solving, and case-based methods. Completion rates exceed 90%, with observed reductions in recidivism and re-enrollment in schools and colleges.
A distinctive feature is its reliance on Tamil cultural traditions and Gurukul-inspired methods. Sessions are conducted on the floor in circles, instructors are addressed with familial respect (annan/akka), and families are integral partners. The low-cost, culturally rooted model enhances accessibility and belonging while avoiding technology dependence.
PARAVAI’s success highlights how restorative justice, cultural integration, and community engagement can provide scalable, cost-effective strategies for reentry policy and correctional practice.
Speakers
Dr John Rajanayakam
3.55pm – 4.15pm NZDT
Designing and Building Effective Short Term Stay Detention Facilities (PID147)
Designing and Building Effective Short Term Stay Detention Facilities (PID147)
Parallel Workshops
It is difficult to support the needs of inmates and officers within short term incarceration facilities. This presentation will explore global and Canadian data as well as information revealed from interviews and surveys, that supported a Province's evolution of correctional thought. The presentation will show how that thought informed a new building morphology, costing and risk transference. Mental health and Indigenous will needs will be highlighted. The ability to attract and retain staff will be addressed as well as the need to reduce the cost of recidivism. The presentation will also review how interviews and visioning sessions were performed to help inform effective practice.Speakers
Robert Boraks
Rebuilding Connections and Victim Empathy through a Restorative Justice Prison Program in California (PID062)
Rebuilding Connections and Victim Empathy through a Restorative Justice Prison Program in California (PID062)
Parallel Workshops
Although not a pre-condition for making amends in criminal harm, apology remains a common experience of most restorative justice processes. If genuinely experienced, apology or forgiveness can provide healing and sense of closure for the victim, plus expression of accountability and victim empathy by the offender. The process of creating a path for an incarcerated person’s behavioral or attitudinal change requires careful application of key restorative justice principles both in program design and application. This paper discusses a restorative justice informed program in a California prison and its impact on the participants for their individual growth and development, victim empathy, interactions with other incarcerated persons and correctional staff.Speakers
Prof. Alexa Sardina
Prof. Ernest Uwazie
Breaking Chains: Evaluating the Effectiveness of NIVRUTTI Drug De-Addiction Centres in Central Prisons of Telangana State, India (PID071)
Breaking Chains: Evaluating the Effectiveness of NIVRUTTI Drug De-Addiction Centres in Central Prisons of Telangana State, India (PID071)
Parallel Workshops
Drug addiction within prison populations is a global crisis, deeply intertwined with socio-economic vulnerabilities such as trauma, poverty, illiteracy, and mental illness. The prison environment—marked by limited treatment access, peer pressure, and the circulation of illicit substances—can intensify these struggles. Addiction not only erodes inmates’ physical and mental well-being but also perpetuates behavioral issues, recidivism, and failed rehabilitation. Breaking this cycle demands a comprehensive approach that integrates evidence-based de-addiction programs, psychological support, and sustained post-release care. In India, the National Crime Records Bureau (2022) reports that 52% of convicted prisoners and 67% of undertrials booked under Special Acts are linked to liquor and narcotics offenses, with many others also reporting substance addiction. In July 2025, the Telangana State Prisons Department established NIVRUTTI de-addiction centres in Central Prisons, offering holistic care through a multidisciplinary team and structured protocols for screening, treatment, and post-release follow-up. The current study seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of these centres in tackling addiction-related challenges, examining the link between drug use and criminal behavior, and understanding the administrative impact of addiction within correctional facilities.Speakers
4.15pm – 4.35pm NZDT
High Psychopathic Traits and its Association with the Severity of Offending, Recidivism and Failure or Resistance to Treatment amongst Incarcerated Offenders in Malta (PID040)
High Psychopathic Traits and its Association with the Severity of Offending, Recidivism and Failure or Resistance to Treatment amongst Incarcerated Offenders in Malta (PID040)
Parallel Workshops
This presentation will showcase the first-ever research examining the prevalence and characteristics of psychopathy among incarcerated offenders in Malta, offering a rare glimpse into an area of criminal psychology that has never before been explored in the Maltese context. Drawing on data from 123 randomly selected case files of sentenced offenders between 2020 and 2022, this study provides valuable insights into how psychopathic traits manifest within a highly recidivist and persistent group of offenders.
Findings revealed that over a third of the sample exceeded the psychopathy cut-off on the PCL:SV, suggesting an unusually high rate compared to international norms. Strikingly, 86.2% of the sample had prior convictions, and almost 80% had served multiple prison terms, highlighting entrenched patterns of offending. The research also uncovered moderate associations between elevated psychopathy scores and several well-established risk factors, such as poor educational and employment history, substance misuse, social detachment, and entrenched criminal attitudes. Even more pronounced were the links between higher psychopathy levels, non-compliance with treatment or correctional care plans, and increased institutional misconduct.
These findings not only mirror international research but also raise the possibility of cultural differences contributing to the particularly high incidence observed. The study underscores the pressing need for specialised, evidence-based interventions and correctional strategies tailored to this challenging population.
Join this session to gain fresh insights into the hidden dynamics of psychopathy in Malta’s prison system, its implications for rehabilitation efforts, and how this knowledge can shape more effective offender management practices moving forward.
Speakers
Dr Kevin Sammut Henwood
Rianne Psaila
Public perceptions of corrections: International differences and impact on correctional officer wellbeing and turnover intentions (PID012)
Public perceptions of corrections: International differences and impact on correctional officer wellbeing and turnover intentions (PID012)
Parallel Workshops
While essential to public safety, correctional work remains largely hidden from public view. This means the public relies heavily on media representations to understand correctional systems and the people that work inside them, often leading to inaccurate and stigmatized views of correctional work. Literature from America and the United Kingdom has repeatedly shown that corrections work is stigmatised as less prestigious than other paramilitary or public safety work, which can negatively impact on the wellbeing of corrections staff. However, no such data has been collected in Australia. Therefore, two studies aimed to 1) measure Australian public perceptions of corrections and other public safety occupations, and 2) assess the impact of perceived public perceptions of correctional work on the wellbeing and turnover intentions of Australian correctional officers. Study 1 results will be presented including Australian public ratings of the prestige, social standing, and honesty and ethics of corrections personnel (correctional officers and parole officers).
These will be compared to Australian public ratings of other public safety personnel (police officers, firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical dispatchers, military personnel) and international ratings of corrections personnel. Study 2 will build on these results to ascertain whether public perceptions of corrections work significantly impact correctional officer wellbeing and turnover intentions. These results can be used to enhance the public image of corrections work and support corrections staff wellbeing, potentially improving recruitment and retention to address skills shortages in the sector.
Speakers
Dr Olivia Miller
Psychometric Properties of the LS/CMI Among Men Under Correctional Supervision in New Zealand (PID024)
Psychometric Properties of the LS/CMI Among Men Under Correctional Supervision in New Zealand (PID024)
Parallel Workshops
This study evaluated the predictive accuracy of the Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI) in a sample of 772 men managed by the New Zealand Department of Corrections. Over a one-year follow-up, both domain and total LS/CMI scores showed moderate discriminative accuracy and added significant predictive value beyond a static risk measure for general and violent recidivism. No significant differences in discrimination or general recidivism rates were found between NZ Māori and NZ European subgroups, though calibration differences for violent recidivism likely reflected base rate disparities. Assessments conducted by psychologists demonstrated significantly higher predictive accuracy than those completed by group facilitators, highlighting the importance of assessor expertise. Overall, findings support the generalizability of the LS/CMI, including its applicability with Indigenous populations.Speakers
Dr Ryan Botha PhD
Simon Davies
4.15pm – 4.45pm NZDT
Smart Prisons Research Results in Finland: Digitalization, Human Rights, and Rehabilitation (PID075)
Smart Prisons Research Results in Finland: Digitalization, Human Rights, and Rehabilitation (PID075)
Parallel Workshops
This presentation reviews Finnish research on Smart Prisons and digitalization in corrections, focusing on national findings. Finland’s Smart Prison model began at Hämeenlinna Women’s Prison and has since expanded to two men’s prisons. Secure in-cell terminals enable e-learning, health and welfare services, video contact with family and NGOs, and even VR-based therapeutic sessions. Digitalization accelerated during COVID-19, supporting rehabilitation and sustaining external contacts (Puolakka, 2022). Studies highlight improved trust and communication between female prisoners and staff in Smart Prisons, alongside women’s greater use of digital services for relationships and personal growth compared to men’s more practical use (Puolakka, 2024). These innovations are anchored in the Nordic principle of normality and human rights (Puolakka & Suomela, 2023).
The newest 2025 data from all three Finnish Smart Prisons—one women’s and two men’s—are presented here for the first time. They confirm earlier national findings: digital access supports well-being and rehabilitation but also shows continued need for digital skills training and staff engagement.
In contrast, research from traditional prisons shows barriers such as low digital competence, restricted autonomy, and limited trust (Järveläinen & Rantanen, 2020, 2025). Surveys highlight that self-efficacy, attitudes, and social support shape digital service use, while age reduces confidence (Rantanen, Järveläinen, & Leppälahti, 2021, 2022).
Finland’s Smart Prison model demonstrates how digitalization can transform rehabilitation and has become an internationally recognized good practice guiding similar projects in other countries.
Speakers
Pia Puolakka
4.15pm – 5.15pm NZDT
Implementing trauma-formed or trauma-focused care in corrections (PID131)
Implementing trauma-formed or trauma-focused care in corrections (PID131)
Parallel Workshops
What would happen if we were to include healing from intergenerational trauma into treatment programs within prisons? While the disproportionally higher prevalence of early life adversities in prison populations has been shown across various cultural contexts, for women and men, its consideration in offense-focused treatment has been low. Can assessment for and effects of early life adversities be a treatment target in institutional care or does this contradict offense-focused treatment offers? And how can this be done culturally safe to facilitate positive turning points reducing intergenerational trauma? This panel discussion will highlight the pros and cons of trauma-informed versus trauma-focused care, with a special consideration of the Aotearoa context. Nicola Perkins, Manager Psychological Services of a Special Treatment Unit in Aotearoa New Zealand will discuss this question from a clinical psychologist point of view, Professor Tracey McIntosh will provide an indigenous and criminological view for culturally responsive corrections, and Dr. Hedwig Eisenbarth will provide research evidence by outlining the views as reported by men in the care of Ara Poutama Aotearoa, New Zealand Department of Correlations.Speakers
Dr Hedwig Eisenbarth
Nicola Perkins
Professor Tracey McIntosh
Toni Bissen
4.35pm – 4.55pm NZDT
Faith-based Programs and Restorative Rehabilitation in Colombian Prisons: A Study of Identity Transformation and Human Flourishing (PID102)
Faith-based Programs and Restorative Rehabilitation in Colombian Prisons: A Study of Identity Transformation and Human Flourishing (PID102)
Parallel Workshops
A 2-year, quasi-experimental study was conducted in collaboration with Prison Fellowship International (PFI) to assess the effectiveness of four Christian faith-based, offender rehabilitation programs operating in 10 Colombian prisons, located in or near seven cities. For the experimental group, a self-administered survey was conducted with program-participating prisoners twice, one before (pretest) and another after participation (posttest). For the control group, a survey was also administered twice with prisoners who had not participated in any of the four programs with two surveys being administered about 2-3 months apart.
We hypothesize that:
(1) program participation increases religiosity;
(2) increased religiosity contributes to restorative rehabilitation, conceptualized in terms of self-identity (identity transformation) and human flourishing in five life domains (happiness & life satisfaction, physical & mental health, meaning & purpose, character & virtue, and close social relationships);
(3) the program-generated rehabilitation decreases the risk of interpersonal aggression in prison. To test these hypotheses, we applied manifest-variable structural equational modeling to analyze the survey data combined with official data from Colombia’s national correctional agency. Results first showed that program participation enhanced prisoner’s relationship with Jesus Christ, which in turn increased the frequency of religious practices. Next, increased religiosity was found to contribute to identity transformation and increase human flourishing of all the five domains including virtue development (e.g., self-control, accountability, and forgiveness). Finally, we found that the program participation-associated decrease in negative emotions and increase in forgiveness reduced the likelihood of engaging in aggressive behavior toward another prisoner in an emotionally volatile situation.
Speakers
Dr Sung Joon Jang
Research and development efforts to promote prison reform: a case study in Chile (PID043)
Research and development efforts to promote prison reform: a case study in Chile (PID043)
Parallel Workshops
Funded by the Chilean National Agency for Research and Development, we conducted a national study of incarcerated people in 2022-2023. Guided by an interdisciplinary focus and in partnership with the Chilean prison service, we report study findings and describe how they inform the implementation of programs and policies by the penal system to improve services during incarceration, better prepare community reentry, and reduce recidivism.
Data for the study come from various sources, including surveys to inmates and prison personnel, qualitative interviews, and analysis of administrative data. We purposively selected the 20 largest prisons from across Chile from where a simple random sample was drawn of incarcerated individuals. Participants completed an anonymous battery of self-administered standardized questionnaires measuring quality of life in prison (MQPL) and general mental health (GHQ-12). From the same facilities, 1,171 personnel participated by completing both the GHQ-12 and the Staff Quality of Life (SQL) instruments.
Data for the study come from various sources, including surveys to inmates and prison personnel, qualitative interviews, and analysis of administrative data. We purposively selected the 20 largest prisons from across Chile from where a simple random sample was drawn of incarcerated individuals. Participants completed an anonymous battery of self-administered standardized questionnaires measuring quality of life in prison (MQPL) and general mental health (GHQ-12). From the same facilities, 1,171 personnel participated by completing both the GHQ-12 and the Staff Quality of Life (SQL) instruments.
Furthermore, over 110 semi-structured interviews were conducted with prison wardens, deputies, officers, guards, and prison staff aimed at understanding prison life from their perspectives and barriers for more effective rehabilitation. We also analyzed and geocoded administrative data from over 44,000 inmates.
The comprehensive data generated by this study is helping the Chilean penal system identify programs to improve the lives of both inmates and personnel. The data are also being utilized to inform conversations with central government, regional authorities, and communities to inform decisions to better support reentry efforts. Implications for research and practice in the region and, possibly, overseas, are discussed.
Speakers
Dr. Guillermo Sanhueza
An empirical examination of the construct and predictive validity of the Violence Risk Scale in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal prisoner populations in Australia (PID052)
An empirical examination of the construct and predictive validity of the Violence Risk Scale in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal prisoner populations in Australia (PID052)
Parallel Workshops
Violence risk assessment tools are extensively employed across many international jurisdictions to inform crucial decisions regarding intervention, parole, and supervision; however, there is limited research on their validity across different cultural contexts. This presentation reports on two studies that evaluated the effectiveness of the Violence Risk Scale (VRS) within the Australian setting. The first study involved Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal prisoners in a single jurisdiction; the second included multiple Australian jurisdictions. Both studies found the VRS effectively predicts violent recidivism across groups. Factor analysis revealed meaningful domains within the VRS to aid clinicians. However, the VRS tends to overestimate risk for Aboriginal prisoners, raising concerns about its construct validity and cultural sensitivity. Strategies to address these biases and improve assessment accuracy will be discussed.Speakers
Emma Ziersch
Dr. Yilma Woldgabreal
4.45pm – 5.15pm NZDT
A Qualitative Multiple Case Study of Stakeholder Experiences Comparing Legacy and Mature Data Systems (PID103)
A Qualitative Multiple Case Study of Stakeholder Experiences Comparing Legacy and Mature Data Systems (PID103)
Parallel Workshops
This qualitative study examines how stakeholders across two criminal justice settings—the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) and the Monroe County Circuit Court Probation Department (MCPD)—experience and evaluate mature versus legacy data systems. As justice agencies increasingly rely on technology to support evidence-based practices, understanding the real-world impacts of these systems on decision-making, safety, and operational efficiency becomes essential.
Using a multiple case study design, the research explores stakeholder perspectives through semi-structured interviews and system-use demonstrations. Stakeholders include clients, case workers, case managers, supervisors, research analysts, and policy makers. Participants will perform real tasks using their respective data systems—Mi-Case (IDOC), Quest, and SRS (MCPD)—while articulating their experiences in real time. This contextual inquiry approach allows for a deeper understanding of daily workflows, data use, and system workarounds.
Key research questions focus on four areas: (1) how technology supports evidence-based practices; (2) the impact of mature systems on safety, programming, budgeting, and case management; (3) costs, timelines, and lessons learned from implementation; and (4) stakeholder-specific benefits such as improved service delivery, reduced administrative burden, and enhanced access to high-quality data.
By comparing two jurisdictions with different system maturity levels, the study provides practical insights for justice agencies considering technology investments. Findings will inform not only how systems shape stakeholder experiences, but also how mature data tools can promote safer, more efficient, and more responsive justice environments.
Speakers
4.55pm – 5.15pm NZDT
Analysing the Effectiveness of Uganda Prisons Service Rehabilitation Programs on Recidivism (PID145)
Analysing the Effectiveness of Uganda Prisons Service Rehabilitation Programs on Recidivism (PID145)
Parallel Workshops
Reducing Reoffending Through Effective Rehabilitation: Lessons from Uganda Prisons ServiceJoin us to explore how the Uganda Prisons Service (UPS) is transforming rehabilitation and reintegration for offenders. Drawing on research across multiple prisons, this session highlights programs- ranging from vocational training and education to psychosocial and spiritual support-that have significantly reduced reoffending. Participants will gain insights into evidence-based strategies, practical challenges, and innovative approaches to strengthening aftercare and community reintegration. The presentation will also spark discussion on equitable program access, sustainable desistance, and building integrated systems to track long-term impact.
Speakers
Enhanced College Education Behind Bars: A Strategic Program for Development and Societal Reintegration (PID077)
Enhanced College Education Behind Bars: A Strategic Program for Development and Societal Reintegration (PID077)
Parallel Workshops
The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of College Education Behind Bars (CEBB) in Davao City Jail (DCJ) using Stufflebeam's CIPP Model of Evaluation. It employed a qualitative research design using a case study method. At that time, Davao City Jail was the only one that implemented the CEBB program in the BJMP. It was vital to evaluate the program's effectiveness to ensure its successful implementation. It uncovered various challenges and issues encountered during the program's implementation. Overall, the CEBB program is a practical and strategic initiative aimed at improving the lives of PDLs, and the CIPP model is an effective evaluation tool for assessing the program's effectiveness.Speakers
Dr Robert Mutia
Beyond Tools and Scores: Rapport in RNR Assessment Interviews as a Lever for Correctional Change (PID134)
Beyond Tools and Scores: Rapport in RNR Assessment Interviews as a Lever for Correctional Change (PID134)
Parallel Workshops
Correctional systems worldwide rely on structured risk-need-responsivity (RNR) frameworks to guide treatment planning and reduce reoffending. While risk assessment interviews are commonly conducted to support treatment planning, less attention has been paid to the relational dynamics that may shape offenders’ readiness for rehabilitation during the interviews. This study examines the role of rapport in influencing treatment readiness during RNR assessment interviews with sex offenders.
Eighty incarcerated male sex offenders participated in interviews conducted by 33 trained correctional professionals. Offenders completed treatment readiness ratings before and after interviews and rated the rapport levels with their interviewers after. Results showed that higher levels of perceived rapport were associated with significant increases in treatment readiness. Five themes of interviewer qualities such as a) Ensuring Professional Preparedness, Knowledge, and Competency, b) Protecting Safety and Rights, c) Maintaining Respect and Neutrality, d) Giving Attention, Support and Care, and e) Relating to Sexual and Cultural Identity demonstrated strong influence on treatment readiness.
Findings underscore rapport as a measurable and influential component of correctional practice, not merely a “soft skill.” Embedding rapport-building into assessment training can improve engagement, enhance needs identification, and strengthen pathways to rehabilitation. This study provides new evidence that how assessments are conducted matters as much as the tools themselves, with implications for practice, training, and policy.
Speakers
Boon Siang Kwek
Wednesday 4 March
Building on this broader regional perspective, the keynote will showcase Singapore's evidence-based approach to youth offender rehabilitation by examining historical context, current trends and data from Singapore's youth offending landscape. Central to this discussion are findings from multiple comprehensive studies conducted over the past two decades, that involves diverse methodologies including longitudinal tracking, quasi experimental and birth cohort designs. Beyond documenting risk and protective factors, the studies highlight rehabilitation trajectories and underscore the vital roles of families and communities in supporting reintegration.
The study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining surveys and semi-structured interviews with 200 voluntary participants in three Italian prisons. It pursues three interrelated objectives. First, to provide systematic documentation of what is currently served in prisons, filling a gap in national data. Second, to analyze the specific context of consumption: unlike in many countries where meals take place in communal halls, in Italy they are usually eaten inside the cell, with significant implications for daily routines, social interactions, and isolation. Third, to investigate the symbolic and psychological meanings attributed to food—whether as comfort, identity preservation, or a medium of exchange and negotiation within the prison space.
By foregrounding food, the research highlights prisons as complex and underexplored social environments. It shows how meals, beyond their nutritional function, embody broader dynamics of control, marginalization, and human resilience. Ultimately, the project asks whether improving the quality and quantity of prison food can, in the long term, contribute to inmates’ rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
Overall, findings from the research were mixed. The revised techniques were positively received by staff and prisoners who reported more natural and quick resolution of incidents however, learning points were identified. Data showed that disparities in those who experience force persist across the estate; that an inconsistent roll-out and low learning completion rates impact staff’s confidence and competence to use force; and importance of prioritising training and staff development as a strategic lever for improving outcomes across the prison estate. Recommendations include the need for a trauma-informed, gender specific training approach, to improve how training is run and to make time for it, to increase the speed of the training roll-out, and to continue investment in assurance and data.
In this session, we will define these strategies and share the lessons that Unlocked Graduates has learnt on our award-winning programme in prisons across England and Wales, recruiting and training nearly 900 outstanding prison officers since 2017. We will provide evidence that being an excellent prison officer is something that can be learnt, demonstrating the power of an instructional coaching model and sharing a useful framework for prison officers wanting to reflect on and develop their own professional practice. The evidence we have gathered to date suggests that supporting prison officers to master this repertoire of techniques can make a big difference, maintaining staff wellbeing, promoting rehabilitation, and creating safer environments for both staff and people in custody.
The Creative Arts and Cultural Wellbeing Programmes in Prison Initiative introduced 12 creative arts providers to 17 Corrections prison sites delivering 14 programmes that included whakairo (carving), raranga (weaving), creative writing, storytelling, music, performing arts, and film making. Most of the programmes were inspired and informed by mātauranga Māori.
An evaluation of this three-year initiative found that arts offered participants an opportunity to develop a pro-social identity, personal agency, motivation, and a shift in perspective. A supportive and non-judgemental setting meant creative arts providers interacted with participants as people who had the potential to be creative, rather than as prisoners. Pro-social relationships with other offenders in prison, arts providers and whānau had the potential to support change and provide mental health benefits.
For prison staff the arts programmes could reduce tension in units and increase the willingness of people in prison to participate in other programmes.
Throughout all stages of the project process, from initial scoping to detailed design, the focus was to ensure that the facility could be integrated into the existing rural landscape to minimise adverse effects on rural character and the visual amenity of neighbours, while also managing the expectations of tangata whenua and other stakeholders. The collective experience of Boffa Miskell’s landscape planning, cultural advisory and landscape architecture team with other projects of a similar nature ensured the response to the brief was sufficiently robust and appropriate to undergo detailed scrutiny by the Department, Regional and District Councils, stakeholders and the Environment Court.
As part of a wider comparative international empirical study of prison violence in male prisons in England, Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand (undertaken with Dr Kate Gooch, University of Bath), this paper presents findings from Aotearoa New Zealand, particularly focusing on assaults against correctional staff and the broader foundations of prison safety. Drawing on prisoner and staff interviews, prisoner surveys, and institutional data, the paper introduces a new conceptual framework that distinguishes between prisoner-on-staff and prisoner-on-prisoner violence—revealing key factors behind the rise in staff assaults in the jurisdictions studied.
Challenging control-focused safety models, the paper proposes a more holistic approach to prison safety grounded in individual, organisational, environmental, and relational factors. This session invites researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to rethink what safety means in carceral settings—and how it might be better achieved.
While research shows that participation in arts programs is linked to fewer disciplinary incidents, much less is known about how this happens. Volunteers describe theatre as a unique setting where incarcerated participants can experience belonging, cooperation, and constructive self-expression. These “free spaces” are not without challenge: theatre practitioners must negotiate with correctional staff, adapt materials and methods under strict regulations, and sustain legitimacy in often-unpredictable environments. Yet through these efforts, they help cultivate safer, more humane cultures of interaction that complement traditional approaches to safety and rehabilitation.
Ultimately, this presentation invites attendees to consider the question: “How can corrections professionals partner with theatre programme volunteers to help create sustainable conditions for both safety and human flourishing behind bars?”
We surveyed correctional staff in Washington, Oregon, and California who had served on Resource Teams to better understand how this model may affect staff. Respondents overwhelmingly agreed that Resource Teams made restricted housing units safer, built trust with incarcerated people, improved overall prison safety, and reduced staff stress. Compared with pre-team involvement, staff reported less emotional exhaustion, greater confidence in managing high-risk individuals and de-escalating potentially violent situations, and a lower likelihood of wanting to leave corrections. These changes were statistically significant.
Although Resource Team members represent only a small fraction of corrections staff in these states, the model demonstrated a substantial positive impact on the prisons where it operates and the experience of staff in units with the highest rates of violence. These findings add to a growing body of evidence that engaging incarcerated people with high needs in meaningful activities can enhance staff health and well-being, improve prison culture, and increase safety for everyone involved.
The research involved 210 officers from across Poland, using standardized tools: COPSOQ II, UWES, and BAT. Results reveal a complex picture: officers report high work engagement, primarily driven by dedication, and overall low burnout levels. However, they operate under significant job demands, with cognitive loads (multitasking, complex decisions) and emotional demands being the most salient. Positively, officers value their work's social climate, role clarity, and job security.
Key recommendations include redesigning work organization to mitigate emotional and cognitive demands, enhancing reward systems, and implementing preventive interventions like concentration training. This study provides a crucial evidence-based foundation for improving the wellbeing of correctional staff.
This study used a survey to administer the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS), the Four-Item Patient Health Questionnaire for Anxiety and Depression (PHQ-4), and other work-related measures (stress, job satisfaction, workload, exhaustion, and support).
The sample included 275 probation officers. The demographics of the sample mapped closely to those of the national Probation Officer population. Analyses confirmed that the STSS was a valid and reliable screening tool in this population. Of participants, 62% were experiencing some kind of psychological distress and 79% of participants were experiencing some level of STS (with 57% experiencing moderate, high, or severe levels). Despite this, participants demonstrated good levels of job satisfaction. Anxiety, depression, stress, a high workload, feeling exhausted and having a low level of job satisfaction were identified as risk factors for development of STS. Support was identified as a protective factor.
The STSS is proposed as a helpful screening tool in identifying Probation Officers who are at risk. A Professional Supervision model and/or a training package to upskill leaders in understanding and responding to signs of STS is proposed.
This presentation draws on a research project examining informal social control (i.e., family relationships, romantic partnerships, living arrangements, employment, and academic/vocational skills) as a protective factor against reoffending. Using a Canadian sample of Indigenous and White persons, analyses showed that while some forms of informal social control, such as supportive companions and stable housing, were protective for White participants, they were less protective or even risk-enhancing for Indigenous participants. These findings highlight that risk and protective factors are not culturally universal but shaped by structural inequality, colonial legacies, and relational worldviews.
By situating informal social control within broader discussions of culturally responsive corrections, this presentation underscores the need to move beyond one-size-fits-all models of risk assessment. Centering Indigenous perspectives and relational approaches offers pathways for justice practices that are culturally safe, community-led, and healing-informed. This work demonstrates how research-based insights can inform the development of correctional policies and programs that are more equitable, effective, and culturally relevant for Indigenous communities.
Over the following 12 months regional working groups of staff across four jurisdictional regions and from all levels of the organisation undertook a practice-informed approach to mapping Discharge Planning practices across the Department’s interfaces with key offender cohorts.
This resulted in the identification of five priority areas along with a range of associated recommendations and actions, including ‘quick wins’ which could be implemented at a site and regional level. In addition, several larger, complex challenges requiring an organisational response were also identified, resulting in five inter-related projects which are currently being resourced and delivered.
This presentation will outline the conceptualisation and mapping process for this unique, staff-led initiative, project delivery through consultative approaches involving staff, community partners, lived experience, and achieved and expected outcomes for clients.
The Justice Housing Program (JHP), developed by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government, aims to provide transitional accommodation to people leaving the ACT’s only adult prison and who would otherwise have nowhere to go. Our paper presents the findings of the first process evaluation of the JHP. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 people involved in the JHP. We also administered a survey to clients to find out about their housing history and level of social connection.
Overall, the findings from our evaluation suggest that the JHP appears to be filling a significant gap and is supported by both JHP clients and professional stakeholders. The preliminary lessons point the way for programs that do not merely provide a roof over someone’s head, but also create a sense of coming home.
In our presentation we report on two research projects conducted in metropolitan and regional prisons in WA as well as the Perth Watch House, and people with lived experience in the community, including men and women, Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants (n=432). They are sharing their perspectives on their pathways into prison, experiences of imprisonment and programmatic interventions, and to what extend these were helpful or fell short in their reintegration journeys to successful desistance. We used multiple methods including surveys, narrative interviews and forums, and quantitative and qualitative data analysis were combined to provide a broad as well as in-depth investigation of the main drivers of prison populations in WA.
We will present the main findings of both studies, with a focus on women and Indigenous peoples, and provide recommendations for better and evidence-based correctional practice.
Unlike Western models focusing on nuclear families, Singapore's multicultural context required recognising extended family networks, including siblings, in-laws, and chosen family members. Cultural values influenced family dynamics, with some Chinese-speaking families described as "not those who talk about their feelings," requiring facilitators to create culturally respectful spaces for emotional expression.
The FRC brings pre-release individuals and family members for collaborative reentry planning. While aligned with Huikahi principles emphasising healing relationships, Singapore's adaptation required cultural modifications for relevance across Malay, Chinese, Indian, and other communities. The pilot involved 24 circles across multiple facilities using mixed methods evaluation. Results demonstrated improvements: 91% of supervisees reported confidence in receiving family support, with all reporting enhanced ability to share concerns without judgment. Family members showed improvements: 97% reporting enhanced communication and 93% feeling closer post-intervention. Supervisees' confidence in conflict resolution increased from 42% to 100%.
Qualitative feedback found participants noting improved communication and proper apologies, demonstrating forgiveness's centrality in Asian relationships. Singapore's family definition included prison officers and community workers, reflecting collectivistic support approaches.
Cultural adaptation addressed challenges around shame, "saving face," and hierarchical relationships. Findings demonstrate successful Huikahi adaptation prioritising cultural responsiveness, illustrating how restorative justice practices benefit from embracing diversity rather than imposing uniform approaches.
Attendees will have the opportunity to reflect on the alignment of the framework with local and international reintegration policies, practices, and prevailing criminological theories. Participants will be encouraged to identify actionable ways to use the framework for theoretical advancement, program planning, service design, and improving reintegration outcomes. The session seeks to promote peer knowledge-sharing and practical adaptation, making the work relevant to practitioners, policymakers, and researchers working to strengthen reintegration support for people leaving prison in later life and beyond.
This presentation reports findings from in-depth qualitative interviews with people in prison in Queensland, Australia who have chosen not to seek parole, as well as correctional staff. The study pays particular attention to the experiences of First Nations people and individuals with intellectual disability, who are overrepresented in prisons and face distinctive re-entry challenges. Our findings reveal the individual and systemic factors shaping decisions to waive parole and provide critical insights to inform policy and practice reforms that improve equitable access to parole, strengthen reintegration, and enhance public confidence in conditional release.
This session is relevant for social services professionals, criminal justice practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and community leaders working in offender rehabilitation and youth crime prevention. Attendees will gain evidence-based approaches to supporting families of ex-offenders, frameworks for coordinating services across agencies, and strategies for preventing youth offending through targeted interventions. Drawing from Singapore's population-level data, this session demonstrates how research can inform more effective reintegration policies and practices. Participants will see real-world examples of how Singapore's government agencies, community partners, and families work together to break cycles of offending.
Through a tailored reintegration service based in Te Ao Māori the mentors are providing life changing benefits such as supporting participants to address addiction issues, providing help with restoring relationships, finding housing, addressing initial financial needs, supporting health issues through diet and exercise, and finding sustainable occupations.
Mentors and participants speak the same language. The participants that were interviewed discuss how their mentors understand them and understand where they have been. They share that they feel their mentors are acting in their best interests and they don't feel the need to be guarded; instead, they can be open with each other. Mentors build trust with programme participants and establish collaborative relationships. Provider groups also work collaboratively to provide wrap-around and tailored support.
This presentation will take a collaborative approach as well with presenters representing the Department of Corrections and Maketu Health and Social Services. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from inspirational mentor Karl Goldsbury, reformed recidivist offender and ex-meth addict, whose lived experience and dynamic leadership qualities influence positive change in other gang leader’s lives.
8.30am – 9.30am NZDT
Reintegration and Community Connections (PID132)
Reintegration and Community Connections (PID132)
Plenary Session
Across Asia, rehabilitation within correctional systems has been shaped by diverse histories, cultures, and resources. Yet, little has been shared about how these unique contexts influence the way rehabilitation is conceptualised and delivered. Much of the global discourse continues to be driven by Western-derived frameworks, and the extent to which these models have been adopted, adapted, or reimagined in Asian settings remains underexplored. By examining developments across multiple Asian jurisdictions, this keynote will highlight both the challenges and innovations in developing rehabilitation approaches that are not only evidence-based but also culturally and contextually responsive. These insights are vital for policymakers designing strategies and practitioners working directly with individuals with offending histories.
Building on this broader regional perspective, the keynote will showcase Singapore's evidence-based approach to youth offender rehabilitation by examining historical context, current trends and data from Singapore's youth offending landscape. Central to this discussion are findings from multiple comprehensive studies conducted over the past two decades, that involves diverse methodologies including longitudinal tracking, quasi experimental and birth cohort designs. Beyond documenting risk and protective factors, the studies highlight rehabilitation trajectories and underscore the vital roles of families and communities in supporting reintegration.
Speakers
Dr Chi Meng Chu
9.30am – 10.30am NZDT
Safer Correctional Environments (PID170)
11am – 11.22am NZDT
Interventions for prison work-related violence: A systems thinking perspective (PID011)
Interventions for prison work-related violence: A systems thinking perspective (PID011)
Parallel Workshops
Working in corrections can be stressful and involve exposure to potentially traumatic critical incidents like work-related violence (WRV) from prison residents, colleagues, and supervisors. As such, corrections workers have exhibited high rates of physical and mental injury including symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. Such symptoms can impact staff capacity to appropriately support the people under their care. Therefore, this research aimed to identify, synthesize, and evaluate prison WRV interventions using the systems thinking framework PreventiMap, an adaption of Rasmussen’s Risk Management framework. Results will be discussed, providing an overview of the complex system of prison WRV interventions currently available and their efficacy, as well as identifying intervention gaps that, once addressed, could produce systemic change and long-lasting reductions in prison WRV. Recommendations will be made on best practices for preventing corrections WRV. Protecting the health and safety of corrections workers is of critical importance as employees with wellbeing tend to be more productive and satisfied at work, which can then flow on to benefit their employers and prison residents.Speakers
Dr Olivia Miller
Correctional officer experiences of moral distress, trauma-informed organizational practices, and structural stigma (PID005)
Correctional officer experiences of moral distress, trauma-informed organizational practices, and structural stigma (PID005)
Parallel Workshops
Correctional professionals face deep emotional and ethical challenges in their work. This session presents findings from a mixed-method study examining moral distress and trauma-informed organizational practices among 77 Canadian correctional agents. Participants completed a survey and shared candid reflections on how their institutions address traumatic stress. We explored whether staT from equity-deserving groups—such as racialized, Indigenous, and LGBTQI+ professionals—experience higher levels of distress. The findings revealed a troubling pattern: the longer agents stayed in the role, the more distress they reported, with those from marginalized groups potentially at greater risk. Strikingly, trauma-informed organizational practices were associated with reduced moral distress—a promising and novel finding. Drawing on both statistical trends and powerful qualitative insights, this session will illuminate the human cost of working in carceral environments and emphasize the urgent need for systemic strategies that promote equity, wellbeing, and resilience. Join us for a compelling conversation on how institutions can better support those who serve within them.Speakers
Prof. Denise Michelle Brend
11am – 11.30am NZDT
Prison Food, Social Sustainability and Reeducation: A Case Study of Three Italian Prisons (Parma, Reggio Emilia and Civitavecchia) (PID130)
Prison Food, Social Sustainability and Reeducation: A Case Study of Three Italian Prisons (Parma, Reggio Emilia and Civitavecchia) (PID130)
Parallel Workshops
Food sustains not only the body but also identity, dignity, and social relations. Its anthropological significance is well established, yet its sociological dimension has been systematically investigated only since the 1970s. This doctoral research examines prison food as a lens to explore detention in Italy, asking whether healthier and better-quality meals can support inmates’ reeducation and resocialization.
The study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining surveys and semi-structured interviews with 200 voluntary participants in three Italian prisons. It pursues three interrelated objectives. First, to provide systematic documentation of what is currently served in prisons, filling a gap in national data. Second, to analyze the specific context of consumption: unlike in many countries where meals take place in communal halls, in Italy they are usually eaten inside the cell, with significant implications for daily routines, social interactions, and isolation. Third, to investigate the symbolic and psychological meanings attributed to food—whether as comfort, identity preservation, or a medium of exchange and negotiation within the prison space.
By foregrounding food, the research highlights prisons as complex and underexplored social environments. It shows how meals, beyond their nutritional function, embody broader dynamics of control, marginalization, and human resilience. Ultimately, the project asks whether improving the quality and quantity of prison food can, in the long term, contribute to inmates’ rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
Speakers
Gaia Messori
Improving Safety Across the Estate: Early Insights into HMPPS’ New Use of Force Training Curriculum (PID067)
Improving Safety Across the Estate: Early Insights into HMPPS’ New Use of Force Training Curriculum (PID067)
Parallel Workshops
Across prisons in England and Wales rates of force continue to rise, and therefore it is critical that staff are provided with the necessary skills to respond to incidents appropriately, fairly, and in a considered manner. In January 2024, HMPPS introduced a new national Use of Force (UoF) professional standards and training curriculum. To understand the effect of this new curriculum, a mixed methods review was carried out during roll-out to capture learning that aims to strengthen the training to drive improved outcomes across the estate.
Overall, findings from the research were mixed. The revised techniques were positively received by staff and prisoners who reported more natural and quick resolution of incidents however, learning points were identified. Data showed that disparities in those who experience force persist across the estate; that an inconsistent roll-out and low learning completion rates impact staff’s confidence and competence to use force; and importance of prioritising training and staff development as a strategic lever for improving outcomes across the prison estate. Recommendations include the need for a trauma-informed, gender specific training approach, to improve how training is run and to make time for it, to increase the speed of the training roll-out, and to continue investment in assurance and data.
Speakers
Clarice Watkinson
Dr Grant Bosworth
11am – 12.30pm NZDT
Understanding prison ecologies: An approach to addressing institutional aggression in Aotearoa-New Zealand (PID114)
Understanding prison ecologies: An approach to addressing institutional aggression in Aotearoa-New Zealand (PID114)
Parallel Workshops
Prisons are complex environments that involve a variety of dimensions – social, legal, moral, cultural, spatial, emotional and political. Furthermore, interpersonal violence and aggression is widely recognised as a reality in prisons across the world which poses a ready-made ‘problem’ that demands ‘solving’. Major theoretical perspectives of violence in prisons have emphasised internal (‘bad apple’), external (‘bad barrel’), or situational (‘bad luck’) attributions as causal explanations, and while these theories speak to institutional priorities about assessment and intervention of disruption, they are also incomplete. This workshop also highlights the importance of a culturally-accountable philosophy of care, Indigenous ways of being, and especially the priorities of Indigenous stakeholders in promoting safety and wellbeing for those who reside and work in our prisons.Speakers
Dr Armon Tamatea
Prof Devon Polaschek
11.22am – 11.44am NZDT
Whakawhanaungatanga: Towards an indigenous response framework for addressing violence and aggression in Prison settings (PID065)
Whakawhanaungatanga: Towards an indigenous response framework for addressing violence and aggression in Prison settings (PID065)
Parallel Workshops
Māori (indigenous population) are overrepresented in the Aotearoa New Zealand prison system, including in statistics involving violence and aggression within prison. This highlights systemic failures and the need for system responses that work for Māori in prison, their whānau (family), iwi (tribes), and hapū (sub-tribes).
This qualitative study focuses on Māori perspectives to identify effective strategies for responding to and de-escalating incidents of violence and aggression within the prison context in Aotearoa. It is underpinned by Kaupapa Māori theory, which places Te Ao Māori (the Māori world) and Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) at the centre of analysis, and assumes the validity and legitimacy of tikanga (Māori customs and protocols) and te reo Māori (the Māori language).
The findings of this study demonstrate that Indigenous methods of responding to violence and aggression have the potential to improve safety outcomes for Māori in prison, the staff who work with them, and Māori whānau and communities. These approaches are by Māori, for Māori, and they highlight both what Māori in prisons need from staff in a response, as well as the wisdom that expert Māori practitioners have shared in relation to this kaupapa (topic or purpose).
A report with findings and recommendations has been produced outlining:
• Strategies related to violence and aggression.
• Guidance on frontline staff responses in the moment.
• Guidance on post-incident responses and whānau inclusion.
• Guidance on frontline staff responses in the moment.
• Guidance on post-incident responses and whānau inclusion.
The overall goal is to improve circumstances for Māori—and indeed others—within the prison system.
Speakers
Mitchell Takiari
Leading prison landings: learning from Unlocked Graduates (PID099)
Leading prison landings: learning from Unlocked Graduates (PID099)
Parallel Workshops
Prison officers are the agents of change within our prisons. The relationships they are able to build with the prisoners in their care have the power to transform the lives of some of society’s most challenging and vulnerable people. To do this incredibly complex job well, prison officers need to be outstanding problem solvers, committed to continually honing their relational practice and mastering a range of effective strategies to promote change, ultimately improving outcomes for prisoners. Staff on the frontline need to know exactly what the most effective prison officers are doing that makes a difference. They deserve the highest quality training and development opportunities to support them to master these strategies themselves and build them into their everyday practice.
In this session, we will define these strategies and share the lessons that Unlocked Graduates has learnt on our award-winning programme in prisons across England and Wales, recruiting and training nearly 900 outstanding prison officers since 2017. We will provide evidence that being an excellent prison officer is something that can be learnt, demonstrating the power of an instructional coaching model and sharing a useful framework for prison officers wanting to reflect on and develop their own professional practice. The evidence we have gathered to date suggests that supporting prison officers to master this repertoire of techniques can make a big difference, maintaining staff wellbeing, promoting rehabilitation, and creating safer environments for both staff and people in custody.
Speakers
Natasha Porter
11.30am – 12pm NZDT
Arts Programmes in Corrections: the desistance journey (PID104)
Arts Programmes in Corrections: the desistance journey (PID104)
Parallel Workshops
The desistance from offending journey requires personal change, motivation, and social integration. It is not a single event but a journey which is often characterised by lapses and recoveries. At its core desistance requires the development of a new non-criminal identity. In prison where it is hard to move beyond an identity as an offender, arts and cultural programmes can offer an identify as a writer, an artist, a carver and as a creative person.
The Creative Arts and Cultural Wellbeing Programmes in Prison Initiative introduced 12 creative arts providers to 17 Corrections prison sites delivering 14 programmes that included whakairo (carving), raranga (weaving), creative writing, storytelling, music, performing arts, and film making. Most of the programmes were inspired and informed by mātauranga Māori.
An evaluation of this three-year initiative found that arts offered participants an opportunity to develop a pro-social identity, personal agency, motivation, and a shift in perspective. A supportive and non-judgemental setting meant creative arts providers interacted with participants as people who had the potential to be creative, rather than as prisoners. Pro-social relationships with other offenders in prison, arts providers and whānau had the potential to support change and provide mental health benefits.
For prison staff the arts programmes could reduce tension in units and increase the willingness of people in prison to participate in other programmes.
Speakers
Fiona Conlon
Integrating Landscape, Culture, and Community in Corrections: The Waikeria Prison Redevelopment (PID119)
Integrating Landscape, Culture, and Community in Corrections: The Waikeria Prison Redevelopment (PID119)
Parallel Workshops
The Waikeria Prison project began in July 2016 with a Prison Capacity Alternative Site Assessment to determine the most appropriate location for a proposed new prison facility in New Zealand's upper North Island.
Throughout all stages of the project process, from initial scoping to detailed design, the focus was to ensure that the facility could be integrated into the existing rural landscape to minimise adverse effects on rural character and the visual amenity of neighbours, while also managing the expectations of tangata whenua and other stakeholders. The collective experience of Boffa Miskell’s landscape planning, cultural advisory and landscape architecture team with other projects of a similar nature ensured the response to the brief was sufficiently robust and appropriate to undergo detailed scrutiny by the Department, Regional and District Councils, stakeholders and the Environment Court.
The Waikeria Prison redevelopment integrates cultural responsiveness and reintegration through landscape design, ecological restoration, and Māori partnership. Collaborating with mana whenua and community groups, the project established a native nursery, involved prisoners in planting, and restored waterways—enhancing both biodiversity and rehabilitation. A culturally sensitive design framework ensured minimal visual impact and respected ancestral land. Led by Puniu River Care and guided by the Landscape and Ecological Management Plan, the project fosters community connection, skills development, and post-release pathways. Waikeria exemplifies how corrections infrastructure can honour Indigenous values while supporting reintegration and environmental stewardship.
Speakers
Jo Soanes
11.44am – 12.07pm NZDT
Prison Violence, Prison Staff Assaults, and the Foundations of Carceral Safety (PID106)
Prison Violence, Prison Staff Assaults, and the Foundations of Carceral Safety (PID106)
Parallel Workshops
Prison violence is a persistent global challenge, yet its forms and drivers are shaped by distinct local institutional, cultural, social, and political contexts. While international scholarship on prison violence continues to grow, empirical research focused on prisons in Aotearoa New Zealand remains scarce. Moreover, dominant frameworks—largely shaped by US and Euro-centric, particularly quantitative, perspectives—often fail to capture the complexity of prison violence in other jurisdictions.
As part of a wider comparative international empirical study of prison violence in male prisons in England, Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand (undertaken with Dr Kate Gooch, University of Bath), this paper presents findings from Aotearoa New Zealand, particularly focusing on assaults against correctional staff and the broader foundations of prison safety. Drawing on prisoner and staff interviews, prisoner surveys, and institutional data, the paper introduces a new conceptual framework that distinguishes between prisoner-on-staff and prisoner-on-prisoner violence—revealing key factors behind the rise in staff assaults in the jurisdictions studied.
Challenging control-focused safety models, the paper proposes a more holistic approach to prison safety grounded in individual, organisational, environmental, and relational factors. This session invites researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to rethink what safety means in carceral settings—and how it might be better achieved.
Speakers
Dr Katherine Doolin
Going Above and Beyond: Procedural Justice, Mental Wellbeing, and Organisational Citizenship Among New Prison Officers (PID123)
Going Above and Beyond: Procedural Justice, Mental Wellbeing, and Organisational Citizenship Among New Prison Officers (PID123)
Parallel Workshops
Prison systems worldwide face mounting pressures, including rising prisoner numbers, staff shortages, and high turnover, particularly among new recruits. In this context, understanding the factors that support staff wellbeing and positive workplace behaviours is crucial. This paper explores the relationship between procedural justice, mental wellbeing, and confidence in carrying out organisational citizenship behaviour among new prison officers recruited through the Unlocked Graduates Leadership Development Program in England and Wales. Our findings highlight the importance of both supervisors and organisations treating their staff with procedural justice; not only is fair treatment associated with greater mental wellbeing, but it encourages behaviours that extend beyond formal job requirements. Cultivating such behaviours among new prison officers may ultimately improve practices, cultures, and outcomes for people in custody within prisons.Speakers
Julia Yesberg
12pm – 12.30pm NZDT
Dynamic Security and the Arts in Prisons (PID156)
Dynamic Security and the Arts in Prisons (PID156)
Parallel Workshops
How can theatre programs in prisons contribute to safer prison environments? This presentation draws on case studies of several high-profile theater programmes in US prisons, including theater at San Quentin, theater with juvenile offenders, and with individuals in solitary confinement, and the renowned 30-year "Shakespeare Behind Bars" to explore how creative practices foster trust, reduce tensions, and open spaces of dignity within secure facilities. Attendees will gain insights into how volunteer-facilitated theatre aligns with international conversations about trauma-informed practice and dynamic security, while offering low-cost, community-based innovation. The session will highlight practical lessons for correctional leaders, staff, and program providers, as well as opportunities for research–practice partnerships.
While research shows that participation in arts programs is linked to fewer disciplinary incidents, much less is known about how this happens. Volunteers describe theatre as a unique setting where incarcerated participants can experience belonging, cooperation, and constructive self-expression. These “free spaces” are not without challenge: theatre practitioners must negotiate with correctional staff, adapt materials and methods under strict regulations, and sustain legitimacy in often-unpredictable environments. Yet through these efforts, they help cultivate safer, more humane cultures of interaction that complement traditional approaches to safety and rehabilitation.
Ultimately, this presentation invites attendees to consider the question: “How can corrections professionals partner with theatre programme volunteers to help create sustainable conditions for both safety and human flourishing behind bars?”
Speakers
Karen Hamer
The Intervention Pathways (IP) model: Insights into the delivery and effectiveness of behaviour change interventions in custodial settings (PID133)
The Intervention Pathways (IP) model: Insights into the delivery and effectiveness of behaviour change interventions in custodial settings (PID133)
Parallel Workshops
The Intervention Pathways (IP) model is an integrated system developed by Corrective Services NSW to deliver combinations of intensive behaviour-change interventions, education, and other programs and services to people in prison. It applies a number of innovations with aims to deliver prescribed amounts of intervention dosage to higher risk individuals within the constraints of their time in custody. This presentation draws on a series of quantitative studies to explore how the IP model achieves these aims and implications for best practice. We also leverage the unique framework of the IP model to provide foundational insights about how variation in the quantity and nature of intervention dosage contributes to recidivism outcomes.Speakers
Dr Mark Howard
12.07pm – 12.30pm NZDT
The Positive Impact of a Solitary Confinement Intervention on Prison Staff (PID111)
The Positive Impact of a Solitary Confinement Intervention on Prison Staff (PID111)
Parallel Workshops
On any given day, more than 6% of the U.S. prison population is held in solitary confinement--a practice that has profound and lasting effects on the mental and physical health of incarcerated people and adverse impacts on staff. To help counter these harms, Amend at the University of California, San Francisco adapted a Norwegian model (“the Resource Team”) for U.S. prisons. This multidisciplinary approach brings together specialized staff and peer mentors to engage people who have spent extended periods in isolation and increase meaningful out-of-cell time.
We surveyed correctional staff in Washington, Oregon, and California who had served on Resource Teams to better understand how this model may affect staff. Respondents overwhelmingly agreed that Resource Teams made restricted housing units safer, built trust with incarcerated people, improved overall prison safety, and reduced staff stress. Compared with pre-team involvement, staff reported less emotional exhaustion, greater confidence in managing high-risk individuals and de-escalating potentially violent situations, and a lower likelihood of wanting to leave corrections. These changes were statistically significant.
Although Resource Team members represent only a small fraction of corrections staff in these states, the model demonstrated a substantial positive impact on the prisons where it operates and the experience of staff in units with the highest rates of violence. These findings add to a growing body of evidence that engaging incarcerated people with high needs in meaningful activities can enhance staff health and well-being, improve prison culture, and increase safety for everyone involved.
Speakers
Madeline Adee
Behind the Uniform: Psychosocial Determinants of Work Engagement and Wellbeing Among Polish Prison Officers (PID151)
Behind the Uniform: Psychosocial Determinants of Work Engagement and Wellbeing Among Polish Prison Officers (PID151)
Parallel Workshops
Behind the Uniform: Wellbeing and Work Engagement in the Polish Prison Service
This presentation presents the findings of the WELLPO research project, a pioneering study on the wellbeing of Polish Prison Service officers based on the Job Demands-Resources model.
This presentation presents the findings of the WELLPO research project, a pioneering study on the wellbeing of Polish Prison Service officers based on the Job Demands-Resources model.
The research involved 210 officers from across Poland, using standardized tools: COPSOQ II, UWES, and BAT. Results reveal a complex picture: officers report high work engagement, primarily driven by dedication, and overall low burnout levels. However, they operate under significant job demands, with cognitive loads (multitasking, complex decisions) and emotional demands being the most salient. Positively, officers value their work's social climate, role clarity, and job security.
Key recommendations include redesigning work organization to mitigate emotional and cognitive demands, enhancing reward systems, and implementing preventive interventions like concentration training. This study provides a crucial evidence-based foundation for improving the wellbeing of correctional staff.
Speakers
Dr Michal Sopinski PhD
1.30pm – 1.55pm NZDT
A Different Kind of Check-In: Wellness and the Future of Probation (PID046)
A Different Kind of Check-In: Wellness and the Future of Probation (PID046)
Parallel Workshops
Approximately 2.9 million people in the United States are under probation supervision, a number that far exceeds those in prisons, jails, or on parole. Yet, there has been limited research and policy attention to the practice. Existing research has primarily focused on risk-assessment centering deficit-focused frameworks. However, there is growing interest in academic and practitioner communities to incorporate more strengths-based and wellness-focused approaches to probation. This presentation reports short-term findings from a randomized-control trial (RCT) conducted in partnership with a large U.S. probation department. Individuals in the treatment group completed a short set of wellness questions as a cost-effective behavioral nudge at the start of each probation meeting with the goal of prompting reflection and priming the meeting for both those on probation and probation officers. Findings will be discussed in the context of reported wellness among those on probation, connections between wellness and more traditional probation metrics (e.g., supervision violations and recidivism), and changes in relationships between probation officers and their clients.Speakers
Dr Kayla Freemon
Secondary Traumatic Stress in New Zealand Probation Officers (PID013)
Secondary Traumatic Stress in New Zealand Probation Officers (PID013)
Parallel Workshops
Through the work Probation Officers do they experience the suffering of others and may be impacted by trauma in a secondary way, known as Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS). Experiencing STS can impact a Probation Officer’s wellbeing, resilience, and how they view the world. It can also result in changes to the way the officer manages offenders, which could subsequently increase their risk of re-offending.
This study used a survey to administer the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS), the Four-Item Patient Health Questionnaire for Anxiety and Depression (PHQ-4), and other work-related measures (stress, job satisfaction, workload, exhaustion, and support).
The sample included 275 probation officers. The demographics of the sample mapped closely to those of the national Probation Officer population. Analyses confirmed that the STSS was a valid and reliable screening tool in this population. Of participants, 62% were experiencing some kind of psychological distress and 79% of participants were experiencing some level of STS (with 57% experiencing moderate, high, or severe levels). Despite this, participants demonstrated good levels of job satisfaction. Anxiety, depression, stress, a high workload, feeling exhausted and having a low level of job satisfaction were identified as risk factors for development of STS. Support was identified as a protective factor.
The STSS is proposed as a helpful screening tool in identifying Probation Officers who are at risk. A Professional Supervision model and/or a training package to upskill leaders in understanding and responding to signs of STS is proposed.
Speakers
Jayne Stevens
Beyond One-Size-Fits-All: Informal Social Control and Indigenous Experiences in Corrections (PID047)
Beyond One-Size-Fits-All: Informal Social Control and Indigenous Experiences in Corrections (PID047)
Parallel Workshops
Indigenous peoples remain overrepresented in correctional systems worldwide. In Canada, they comprise a small share of the adult population but a substantial proportion of federal prison admissions. This reflects systemic biases in decision-making that often disregard Indigenous histories, cultures, languages, and conceptions of justice. Such biases appear in reduced opportunities for release, parole, and program completion. Risk and needs assessments, which inform many correctional decisions, frequently overestimate risk for Indigenous peoples and rely on factors not predictive for this population.
This presentation draws on a research project examining informal social control (i.e., family relationships, romantic partnerships, living arrangements, employment, and academic/vocational skills) as a protective factor against reoffending. Using a Canadian sample of Indigenous and White persons, analyses showed that while some forms of informal social control, such as supportive companions and stable housing, were protective for White participants, they were less protective or even risk-enhancing for Indigenous participants. These findings highlight that risk and protective factors are not culturally universal but shaped by structural inequality, colonial legacies, and relational worldviews.
By situating informal social control within broader discussions of culturally responsive corrections, this presentation underscores the need to move beyond one-size-fits-all models of risk assessment. Centering Indigenous perspectives and relational approaches offers pathways for justice practices that are culturally safe, community-led, and healing-informed. This work demonstrates how research-based insights can inform the development of correctional policies and programs that are more equitable, effective, and culturally relevant for Indigenous communities.
Speakers
Ashley Kyne
1.55pm – 2.17pm NZDT
Shaping Corrections – using a practice-informed, staff-led approach to improve discharge planning and deliver successful community reintegration outcomes (PID064)
Shaping Corrections – using a practice-informed, staff-led approach to improve discharge planning and deliver successful community reintegration outcomes (PID064)
Parallel Workshops
Research indicates that comprehensive prison discharge planning and reintegration practices can play an important role in promoting successful re-entry and lowering recidivism rates. In late 2023, frontline staff involved in the Department for Correctional Services South Australia’s Shaping Corrections program identified the need to reform approaches to prisoner release by improving practices, service pathways, as well as community and inter-Agency partnerships as a critical factor in achieving the Department’s strategic goal of sustained downward trends in recidivism rates across the state.
Over the following 12 months regional working groups of staff across four jurisdictional regions and from all levels of the organisation undertook a practice-informed approach to mapping Discharge Planning practices across the Department’s interfaces with key offender cohorts.
This resulted in the identification of five priority areas along with a range of associated recommendations and actions, including ‘quick wins’ which could be implemented at a site and regional level. In addition, several larger, complex challenges requiring an organisational response were also identified, resulting in five inter-related projects which are currently being resourced and delivered.
This presentation will outline the conceptualisation and mapping process for this unique, staff-led initiative, project delivery through consultative approaches involving staff, community partners, lived experience, and achieved and expected outcomes for clients.
Speakers
Tom Woods-Kerruish
Sophie Ransom
‘Somewhere we can call home and…be normal’: Findings from the Justice Housing Program evaluation (PID086)
‘Somewhere we can call home and…be normal’: Findings from the Justice Housing Program evaluation (PID086)
Parallel Workshops
It is well documented that there is a strong relationship between homelessness or unstable housing and reincarceration. And the initial month after a person is released from custody is a period of particular vulnerability, with an increased risk of homelessness and return to prison.
The Justice Housing Program (JHP), developed by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government, aims to provide transitional accommodation to people leaving the ACT’s only adult prison and who would otherwise have nowhere to go. Our paper presents the findings of the first process evaluation of the JHP. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 people involved in the JHP. We also administered a survey to clients to find out about their housing history and level of social connection.
Overall, the findings from our evaluation suggest that the JHP appears to be filling a significant gap and is supported by both JHP clients and professional stakeholders. The preliminary lessons point the way for programs that do not merely provide a roof over someone’s head, but also create a sense of coming home.
Speakers
Dr Helen Taylor
Professor Lorana Bartels
Women, Indigenous peoples and recidivism; an investigation into the main drivers of an increasing prison population in Western Australia (PID066)
Women, Indigenous peoples and recidivism; an investigation into the main drivers of an increasing prison population in Western Australia (PID066)
Parallel Workshops
Prison populations in Australia are soaring and Western Australia (WA) is leading the pack after the Northern Territory when it comes to imprisonment rates and the overrepresentation of particularly vulnerable groups such as women and Indigenous peoples. Further, about 60% of prisoners has been in prison before, the majority of them returning within 2 years, demonstrating the ‘revolving door’ for people once captured in the system.
In our presentation we report on two research projects conducted in metropolitan and regional prisons in WA as well as the Perth Watch House, and people with lived experience in the community, including men and women, Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants (n=432). They are sharing their perspectives on their pathways into prison, experiences of imprisonment and programmatic interventions, and to what extend these were helpful or fell short in their reintegration journeys to successful desistance. We used multiple methods including surveys, narrative interviews and forums, and quantitative and qualitative data analysis were combined to provide a broad as well as in-depth investigation of the main drivers of prison populations in WA.
We will present the main findings of both studies, with a focus on women and Indigenous peoples, and provide recommendations for better and evidence-based correctional practice.
Speakers
Prof Hilde Tubex
Adapting Family Reentry Circles for Singapore's Multicultural Context: Cultural Responsiveness in Correctional Reintegration (PID100)
Adapting Family Reentry Circles for Singapore's Multicultural Context: Cultural Responsiveness in Correctional Reintegration (PID100)
Parallel Workshops
Singapore's multicultural society presents unique opportunities for implementing restorative justice practices in correctional settings. This paper examines the adaptation of Family Reentry Circles (FRCs) within Singapore's prison system, highlighting how cultural sensitivity and linguistic diversity shaped this family-centred reintegration intervention based on Hawaii's Huikahi Restorative Circles model.
Unlike Western models focusing on nuclear families, Singapore's multicultural context required recognising extended family networks, including siblings, in-laws, and chosen family members. Cultural values influenced family dynamics, with some Chinese-speaking families described as "not those who talk about their feelings," requiring facilitators to create culturally respectful spaces for emotional expression.
The FRC brings pre-release individuals and family members for collaborative reentry planning. While aligned with Huikahi principles emphasising healing relationships, Singapore's adaptation required cultural modifications for relevance across Malay, Chinese, Indian, and other communities. The pilot involved 24 circles across multiple facilities using mixed methods evaluation. Results demonstrated improvements: 91% of supervisees reported confidence in receiving family support, with all reporting enhanced ability to share concerns without judgment. Family members showed improvements: 97% reporting enhanced communication and 93% feeling closer post-intervention. Supervisees' confidence in conflict resolution increased from 42% to 100%.
Qualitative feedback found participants noting improved communication and proper apologies, demonstrating forgiveness's centrality in Asian relationships. Singapore's family definition included prison officers and community workers, reflecting collectivistic support approaches.
Cultural adaptation addressed challenges around shame, "saving face," and hierarchical relationships. Findings demonstrate successful Huikahi adaptation prioritising cultural responsiveness, illustrating how restorative justice practices benefit from embracing diversity rather than imposing uniform approaches.
Speakers
Valerie Goh
Salina Samion
2.17pm – 2.39pm NZDT
Finding your place after prison in later life: A holistic, strengths-based and transdisciplinary framework for reintegrating well (PID084)
Finding your place after prison in later life: A holistic, strengths-based and transdisciplinary framework for reintegrating well (PID084)
Parallel Workshops
This workshop introduces the recently published ‘Place Finding’ reintegration framework, grounded in qualitative research with older people released from prison in Australia (50+ or 45+ for First Nations). Participants will explore how the framework describes a multi-stage re-entry journey, covering the transitions of 'institutionalisation', 'crisis', 'survival and adjustment', and 'grounding', and how supports and resources shape this experience. The session presents new insights into current work on further validation of the framework and exploring its applicability for other populations (including women and younger adults) drawing on emerging follow-up interview data that reveals both shared and distinct reintegration challenges across groups.
Attendees will have the opportunity to reflect on the alignment of the framework with local and international reintegration policies, practices, and prevailing criminological theories. Participants will be encouraged to identify actionable ways to use the framework for theoretical advancement, program planning, service design, and improving reintegration outcomes. The session seeks to promote peer knowledge-sharing and practical adaptation, making the work relevant to practitioners, policymakers, and researchers working to strengthen reintegration support for people leaving prison in later life and beyond.
Speakers
Dr Jane Yein Hwang
Unlocking Parole: Understanding Individual and Systemic Barriers to Parole Engagement among People in Prison (PID089)
Unlocking Parole: Understanding Individual and Systemic Barriers to Parole Engagement among People in Prison (PID089)
Parallel Workshops
Parole is a key mechanism for supporting reintegration after imprisonment, encouraging people in prison to engage with rehabilitative programs and demonstrate readiness for release. In all Australian states and territories, parole boards decide whether to grant conditional release, yet individuals can also influence outcomes by choosing not to apply for parole or by waiving their hearing. Evidence from Australia and internationally shows that many eligible people forgo parole, leading to unconditional release at sentence completion – an outcome that can increase risks of reoffending and reintegration difficulties. Despite these implications, little is known about the reasons behind this decision.
This presentation reports findings from in-depth qualitative interviews with people in prison in Queensland, Australia who have chosen not to seek parole, as well as correctional staff. The study pays particular attention to the experiences of First Nations people and individuals with intellectual disability, who are overrepresented in prisons and face distinctive re-entry challenges. Our findings reveal the individual and systemic factors shaping decisions to waive parole and provide critical insights to inform policy and practice reforms that improve equitable access to parole, strengthen reintegration, and enhance public confidence in conditional release.
Speakers
Supporting Reintegration and Preventing Intergenerational Continuity of Offending: Insights from Singapore (PID130)
Supporting Reintegration and Preventing Intergenerational Continuity of Offending: Insights from Singapore (PID130)
Parallel Workshops
This presentation shares findings from Singapore's analysis of 686,800 children, revealing how parental offending drives intergenerational crime and what protective factors can disrupt this cycle. Key insights demonstrate how reintegration efforts can be strengthened through earlier identification of at-risk families, optimal timing for whole-family interventions during the reintegration process, and practical examples from Singapore's multi-agency approach to offender rehabilitation.
This session is relevant for social services professionals, criminal justice practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and community leaders working in offender rehabilitation and youth crime prevention. Attendees will gain evidence-based approaches to supporting families of ex-offenders, frameworks for coordinating services across agencies, and strategies for preventing youth offending through targeted interventions. Drawing from Singapore's population-level data, this session demonstrates how research can inform more effective reintegration policies and practices. Participants will see real-world examples of how Singapore's government agencies, community partners, and families work together to break cycles of offending.
Speakers
Qiao Kang Teo
Me Mahi Tahi Tātou - Let's work together (PID166)
Me Mahi Tahi Tātou - Let's work together (PID166)
Parallel Workshops
Me Mahi Tahi Tātou - Let’s work together
This presentation will showcase the findings of a review of the Me Mahi Tahi Tātou programme undertaken in March 2025.
The programme supports gang-affiliates and their whānau in the Bay of Plenty. The initiative specifically focuses on providing support by mentors with similar lived experiences who have turned their lives around and are now able to support others on their own reintegration and recovery pathway.
This presentation will showcase the findings of a review of the Me Mahi Tahi Tātou programme undertaken in March 2025.
The programme supports gang-affiliates and their whānau in the Bay of Plenty. The initiative specifically focuses on providing support by mentors with similar lived experiences who have turned their lives around and are now able to support others on their own reintegration and recovery pathway.
Through a tailored reintegration service based in Te Ao Māori the mentors are providing life changing benefits such as supporting participants to address addiction issues, providing help with restoring relationships, finding housing, addressing initial financial needs, supporting health issues through diet and exercise, and finding sustainable occupations.
Mentors and participants speak the same language. The participants that were interviewed discuss how their mentors understand them and understand where they have been. They share that they feel their mentors are acting in their best interests and they don't feel the need to be guarded; instead, they can be open with each other. Mentors build trust with programme participants and establish collaborative relationships. Provider groups also work collaboratively to provide wrap-around and tailored support.
This presentation will take a collaborative approach as well with presenters representing the Department of Corrections and Maketu Health and Social Services. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from inspirational mentor Karl Goldsbury, reformed recidivist offender and ex-meth addict, whose lived experience and dynamic leadership qualities influence positive change in other gang leader’s lives.
Speakers
2.39pm – 3pm NZDT
Factors that improve Probation Officers impact for Māori on Probation Supervision (PID096)
Community-based intervention for people who have used family violence: Complex people with compounded life problems probably need composite interventions (PID152)
Community-based intervention for people who have used family violence: Complex people with compounded life problems probably need composite interventions (PID152)
Parallel Workshops
People who use family violence are typically complex people with complex backgrounds and life problems, so why are many interventions brief, focused on only one or two targets, and one-size-fits-all? In this session, we will think about what a next generation of intervention for family violence might look like, exploring which innovations might be highest priority for implementation to achieve meaningful behaviour change. Using an evaluation of a recently developed program as a launch-point, we'll consider different ways to address the complexity of the problem of family violence, the complexity of the people who use violence in families, and the complexity of the change process toward non-violence. We'll also discuss a core challenge within this type of intervention: How do program facilitators integrate their focus on the person who has used violence (to effectively engage them in the process of change) with the primary goal to reduce victimisation (so the individual accepts personal responsibility to always choose non-violent action)?Speakers
Caleb Lloyd
Dr Nichola Tyler
Thursday 5 March
9.15am – 1pm NZDT
Auckland South Corrections Facility (Kohuora)
Auckland Region Women's Corrections Facility (ARWCF)
Speakers
Madeline Adee
Dorothy Apimo
Mackenzie Auld
Professor Lorana Bartels
Professor Lorana Bartels
Toni Bissen
Dr Onesmus Bitaliwo
Natalie Boal
Robert Boraks
Jessica Borg
Dr Grant Bosworth
Dr Ryan Botha PhD
Prof. Denise Michelle Brend
David Brown
Joanna Browne
Jessica Bruin
Joel Calliss
Dr. Julia Chan
Fiona Conlon
Dr Carmen Corral-Bulnes
Dr Caitlin Davey
Simon Davies
Rick Davis
Professor Andrew Day
Dr Shannon Dodd
Dr Katherine Doolin
Akello Dorine
Chelsea Dunn
Dr Hedwig Eisenbarth
Katrine Fjørtoft
Dr Kayla Freemon
Jennifer Galouzis
Kimberley Gilson
Valerie Goh
Karl Goldsbury
Hayden Gray
Karen Hamer
Dr Mark Howard
Terry Huriwai
Dr Jane Yein Hwang
Alice Jakowitsch
Dr Sung Joon Jang
Grace Jessup
Boon Siang Kwek
Ashley Kyne
Margaret-Anne Laws
Dr Chelsea Leach
Caleb Lloyd
Sampath Mandarapu
Maria Mareroa
Professor Tracey McIntosh
Dr Chi Meng Chu
Dr. Nena Messina
Gaia Messori
Dr Olivia Miller
Dr Soumya Mishra
Lucy Moore
Dr Robert Mutia
Tara Nichols
Dr Miriam Northcutt
Nicola Perkins
Prof Devon Polaschek
Frank Porporino Ph.D.
Natasha Porter
Rianne Psaila
Pia Puolakka
Dr John Rajanayakam
Sophie Ransom
Christina Reagle
Maren Ziegler Riis
Dr Danielle Rudes
Salina Samion
Dr Kevin Sammut Henwood
Dr. Guillermo Sanhueza
Prof. Alexa Sardina
Susan (Huhana) Smith
Jacob Snellaert
Jo Soanes
Moana Solomon
Dr Michal Sopinski PhD
Shawn Sowerbutts
Jayne Stevens
Dr Hameed Ansar T
Mitchell Takiari
Dr Armon Tamatea
Dr Helen Taylor
Erika Te Hiwi
Qiao Kang Teo
Prof Hilde Tubex
Dr Nichola Tyler
Prof. Ernest Uwazie
Clarice Watkinson
Melissa Westin
Dr. Yilma Woldgabreal
Tom Woods-Kerruish
Dr Kevin Wright
Julia Yesberg
Emma Ziersch
