Learning from the impact of and recovery from COVID-19 within prisons: the effect of COVID-19 management and the environment on wellbeing and harm.

COVID-19 is a particular challenge within the prison setting given the vulnerable nature of the population (in terms of emotional dysregulation, mental health difficulties, rates of suicide, self harm and violence); the characteristics of individuals (e.g. high rates of BAME) and the physical conditions (e.g. difficulties of introducing social distancing without the potential for exclusion). This research uses a carefully selected subgroup (those accessing the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway across 34 prison sites) as a case study from which to generalise across the prison context. The combination of quantitative methods (using linear mixed modelling to examine extensive and existing data) and qualitative research (based on interviews with a purposive sample) will enable this research to determine a) the impacts of prison restrictions implemented in response to COVID-19 and the subsequent easing of these on psychological and behavioral outcomes and b) to identify key factors associated with differences in response to restrictions / easing. Understanding and learning from the impact of COVID-19 and the resultant management responses within prisons is essential in order to identify how to build resilience in readiness for further restrictive measures which may be needed during subsequent 'outbreak waves'. Such findings will also have long term implications with regard to effective practices in the context of a return to standard operating status which might enhance the existing prison regime. Finally, this research will also allow us to examine whether certain groups (e.g. ethnic groups) experience a disproportionate impact in prison, as occurs in the wider/non-prison community.