An appreciative inquiry into foreign national prisoners’ participation in prison activities: The role of language

Abstract

This article presents the findings of 51 interviews with foreign national prisoners in Flanders (Belgium). Following an appreciative inquiry stance, the aim is to understand how foreign nationals experience (accessibility to) prison activities (for example, education, work, sports activities and worship) and to investigate if and how this differs between foreign-speaking and Dutch-speaking foreign nationals. A thematic analysis of the interviews revealed several components of the activities offered that were perceived by the foreign nationals to be ‘working well’ and revealed several dreams concerning the activities for foreign nationals. Within each theme considered, similarities and dissimilarities among foreign-speaking and Dutch-speaking foreign nationals are described. This article argues that foreign nationals are confronted with a new pain of imprisonment, namely ‘the pain of (non-)participation’. The findings could enable a shift from supply-driven to tailor-made activities for foreign national prisoners.

Not “proper” foreign national prisoners: Irish ex-prisoner reflections on imprisonment in England and Wales

“…A similar issue was highlighted by some participants in this research who claimed that their applications for work or access to books in the prison was interfered with by prison officers due to their nationality. This could also be described as a form of non-participation (Croux et al, 2021). Anti-Irish discrimination amongst ex-soldiers is most likely a generational issue.…”

“…FNPs suffer multiple pains of imprisonment beyond the traditional Sykesian perspective. These are exacerbated by issues relating to language, family contact, concerns of over immigration and deportation, as well as different cultural tastes, religious and ethnic needs, healthcare, and discrimination (Bhui, 2009; Croux et al, 2021; Harris, 2015; HMIP, 2006, 2007; Martynowicz, 2018; Richards et al, 1995a, 1995b; Sen et al, 2021, Ugelvik and Damsa, 2018).…”

“…The language barrier has been described as the one problem which exacerbates all others faced by FNPs (Bhui, 2009), and for many this has resulted in them being in a prison within a prison (Richards et al, 1995a). Language difficulties are linked with isolation, information about the prison, legal services, food, immigration, health, respect, culture, and ethnicity (Croux et al, 2021; HMIP, 2006), and may result in FNPs missing out on basic provisions such as showering, canteen and visitation, as they may not understand staff instructions. According to Croux et al (2021) the language barrier can create a pain of non-participation in areas such as education, work, sport activities and worship.…”

“…Language difficulties are linked with isolation, information about the prison, legal services, food, immigration, health, respect, culture, and ethnicity (Croux et al, 2021; HMIP, 2006), and may result in FNPs missing out on basic provisions such as showering, canteen and visitation, as they may not understand staff instructions. According to Croux et al (2021) the language barrier can create a pain of non-participation in areas such as education, work, sport activities and worship. Warr (2016) found that the language barrier contributed to a deprivation of certitude, where prisoners must contend with the criminal justice system as well as complex immigration policy and law.…”

Actualizing Affordances of Audiobooks for Elective Readings in a University Course

“…Actualization of affordances of audiobooks for learning in these contexts may also create opportunities at an intersection with second language (L2) or multilingual learning. For example, as a learning opportunity for persons incarcerated outside their country of origin, when language presents a barrier to participation in available educational offerings (see Brosens et al, 2020;Croux et al, 2021).…”