Publicaties

In this article we examine the characteristics, challenges and added value of qualitative prison research in a Belgian context. As the many dynamics and challenges of qualitative research are often underreported in academic publications, we pay particular attention to the research process and the pains and gains of qualitative prison research. Drawing on experiences from several research projects, the different steps of gaining access to the ...

The positive associations of participation in prison activities (e.g. socio-cultural activities, educational courses, sports activities, vocational training, etc.), including reduction of recidivism, improvement of wellbeing and contributions to self-worth, are increasingly recognized. However, little is known about the characteristics by which participants differ from non-participants. In response to this research gap, this study aims to ...

This dissertation provides a first provisional answer to the following central research question: Why do some long-term prisoners max out from prison, rather than obtain a modality of early release? The dissertation includes a brief introduction, four substantive chapters and a discussion and conclusion. The first chapter provides a sketch of the available empirical evidence about maxing out from prison. First, the focus of the study is ...

Background: About a third of people use drugs during their incarceration, which is associated with multiple adverse health and criminal justice outcomes. Many studies have examined factors associated with in-prison drug use, but this evidence has not yet been systematically reviewed. We aimed to systematically review and synthesise the evidence on factors related to drug use in prison. Methods: Three databases (PubMed, PsycINFO and Embase) were ...

Research on the importation and deprivation models has focused almost exclusively on male inmates, and these models have not yet been studied in any setting other than prison. This research explores the importation and deprivation experiences of females labelled as not criminally responsible (FNCR). During the first part of the study, all the participants interviewed were in prison (n= 51). Follow-up interviews were carried out 18 months later, ...

Background: Self-harm is a leading cause of morbidity in prisoners. Although a wide range of risk factors for self-harm in prisoners has been identified, the strength and consistency of effect sizes is uncertain. We aimed to synthesise evidence and assess the risk factors associated with self-harm inside prison. Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched four electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and ...

This article examines the way the religious community of Simon Mpadi (closely related to the better-known Kimbanguist movement) crafted its identity within the colonial penal system in the Belgian Congo, specifically in Oshwe (in today's Mai-Ndombe province). The article shows that the practice of relegation (domestic deportation) was an important constitutive element in the way Mpadists conceptualized power within the movement, as well as the ...