CTC2023 - PID011 - Jeffrey Pfeifer

Technology and Indigenous Prisoners: Guiding Principles for the Development of Effective and Responsive Programs

Research on technology programs aimed at the rehabilitation of Indigenous people in the justice system is sparse, especially given the over-representation of this cohort. The advancement of knowledge on the development of technology programs for Indigenous people in the justice system should begin with the identification of guiding principles which may be gleaned from the existing literature. This presentation reviews the empirical and lived-experience evidence indicating the need for a structured approach to developing forensic technology programs for Indigenous people. A review of this evidence highlights the fact that the use of a structured approach to this issue is in alignment with the responsivity principle of the RNR model. After reviewing the eight guiding principles, the presentation describes the development of the Tree of Me program, a technology-based initiative for assisting Indigenous prisoners with increasing their knowledge of ancestry and positive cultural influences.

Author

Jeffrey Pfeifer

Associate Professor, Swinburne University of Technology

Jeffrey Pfeifer is an Associate Professor of Forensic Psychology at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne and Adjunct Professor at Namibia University of Science and Technology. He has been teaching and researching in forensic psychology, correctional psychology, and policing for 25 years and has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles as well as two books. He has testified in numerous trials as an expert witness in both Canada and the United States and his research has been cited by the Supreme Court of Canada as well as Appellate Courts in Ontario and British Columbia. He is the recipient of the 2004 & 2017 International Corrections and Prisons Association Research Award for his work with Indigenous offenders as well as the use of technology in corrections. Most recently Professor Pfeifer has been conducting a program of research on the use of technology and gaming as a platform for positively impacting the wellbeing and rehabilitation of offenders. His most recent publication is a chapter entitled “Correctional Psychology and Technology: Past, Present and Future” which will be published in the upcoming volume of The History and Future of Correctional Psychology. In addition to his research Professor Pfeifer has conducted numerous program evaluations and training workshops for a variety of organizations including the Corrections Victoria, Western Australia Department of Corrections, Queensland Corrective Services, Namibian Correctional Service, Singapore Prison Service, Sharjah (UAE) Police Service, and the Durban (South Africa) Police Service. During his downtime Professor Pfeifer enjoys writing and is co-author of a children’s series recounting the adventures of Molly O’Hanlon as she solves crimes in 1790 Australia.

CTC2023 - PID011 - Jeffrey Pfeifer

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