The role of self-help efforts in the reintegration of ‘politically motivated’ former prisoners: implications from the Northern Irish experience

Abstract

Self-help (or mutual aid) processes play a substantial role in the reintegration of stigmatized individuals, in particular, a substantial self-help movement has developed around addiction recovery. Prisoners and ex-prisoners have also established self-help groups around the world. This paper focuses in particular on the role of self-help principles and practices among "politically motivated" former prisoners from all sides of the Northern Irish conflict. The concept of self-help and its application to former prisoners are analysed theoretically, then applied to the Northern Irish case study through a series of interviews with ex-prisoners whose incarceration has been related to the conflict in Northern Ireland. We draw on the implications of this case study for wider issues of reintegration for politically motivated and ordinary prisoners.

Peer mentoring justice-involved youth: a training model to promote secondary desistance and restorative justice among mentors

“…Several researchers (Dwyer & Maruna, 2011;Marsh, 2011) have noted congruencies between the current movement against the prison industrial complex and the long history of consumer-led movements. Both movements question the pervasiveness of pathology-driven labels and the sole use of 'medical model'-oriented treatments.…”

“…Additionally, several researchers (Dwyer & Maruna, 2011;Liem & Richardson, 2014;Marsh, 2011) have compared CRA and recovery models in mental and behavioural health to the restorative justice and secondary-desistance oriented shifts in reintegration policy and practices. Consumer movements and allied authorities in mental and behavioural health have mobilised a shift away from a one-dimensional focus on treatment models provided by professional clinical experts (Milford, Austin & Smith, 2007).…”

“…The personal narratives of the mentors and their empathy towards the struggles of adjudicated youth are a unique opportunity for restorative service that produces tangible good through prosocial relationships with justice-involved youth. Equally important, local communities often benefit from greater levels of safety and the expansion of available prosocial networks (Dwyer & Maruna, 2011). However, holding such unique traits increase the need for ongoing, comprehensive training that supports the mentors' progression towards secondary desistance-oriented changes and a healing process that addresses the harm experienced by the mentor.…”

Fangers opplevelser av skam og stolthet etter soning

“…Gevinstene for eks-fanger som går i spissen for dette er store, jf. hjelper-terapiprinsippet: den som hjelper andre er best hjulpet selv (Lebel 2007;Dwyer & Maruna 2011).…”

“…Funnene i vår undersøkelse samsvarer med studier av eksfangeorganisasjoner i USA og Nord Irland som vektlegger at det kan virke mer integrerende å gi hjelp enn å motta hjelp. Det kan gi status og gjøre hjelperen til et viktig medlem i hans eller hennes miljø (Lebel 2007;Dwyer & Maruna 2011).…”