Massey Documents by Type

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/294

Browse

Has files: YesSubject: search.filters.subject.Criminals

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    On LIFE within the Society-of-Captives : exploring the pains of imprisonment for real : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2024-12-12) Luff, Daniel John
    Institutional and social discourse upholds the prison as an effective rehabilitative solution to crime, but more recently there has been increasing criticism of the prison as a producer of harm rather than healing. Despite such criticism, discussions of the rehabilitative potentials of prisons predominantly exclude and silence insider, incarcerate voices in criminal justice debates and literature, and often do not describe what those ‘inside’, like me, are living and experiencing. The primary aim of this project is to theorise twenty years of lived experience of incarceration in the hope of contributing to the work being done to problematise risk-averse, harmful correctional practices. Through a deeply reflexive autoethnographic performance, the reader comes with me beyond prison walls, into the largely closed off, inaccessible world within. Through navigation of my lived experience of imprisonment, I reflexively theorise memories of incarceration that are usually only speculated upon through objective, exclusionary research. The account that emerges from theorising incarceration ‘for real’ analyses the constraints of political narratives and risk averse policy and practice produced within our prison system, and within the bodies that system contains. Through an interweave of autoethnographic field noting, performance and analysis, the research unpacks the connections between the structural, socio-political issues, and the pains of incarceration. Using Arrigo’s Society of Captives (SOC) thesis, the harms being produced are theorised with regard to subjectivities constituted through prison – the prisoner, their guard, and society at large. Theoretical storying shows how socio-political issues are having considerably detrimental impacts on correctional policy and practice. Prisoners are neither seen nor heard, and their keepers too are held captive, unable to engage with their charges ethically lest they be reprimanded for doing corrections differently. Through this multi-layered harm, a society of captives is being perpetuated within which the very harm and risk it proclaims to alleviate is reproduced. Embedded in a pursuit of social justice, I argue for a relational, ethical praxis wherein people are seen, and heard, for real. The change is not only theorised but rare instances of it, and the healing power it produces, demonstrated. Through autoethnography’s theoretical praxis, and embracing of the SOC thesis’ pursuit of becoming, my research also involves considerable personal movement. It illustrates how, through the utilisation of autoethnographic methodology, in particular reflexive process, it becomes possible to ethically resist harmful representations and risk-focused correctional practices. In making these movements the research brings us out of prison, and provides in-depth consideration of my bodily attempts to reintegrate into the community after two decades of largely harmful carceral experiences. In these, the narrative contributes to a growing consciousness, global debate, and movement regarding prison, rehabilitation, and how community safety is best served. And it contributes to a process of becoming within me, a bodily movement, a transition into a place where humanness can be done differently…
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Stages of change profiles of offenders : exploring offenders' motivation to work on their offending problems : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Clinical Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2017) Yong, Abigail Dawn
    Research has highlighted the importance of the stages of change (SoC) model (Prochaska, DiClemente, & Norcross, 1992) in assessing offenders’ motivation to work on their offending problems and as a guiding framework for selecting interventions. This thesis investigated the stages of change profiles in a group of general male offenders (N = 481) before and after a Short Motivational Programme (SMP), which is a combination of motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural material. For the first aim, distinct homogenous stage profiles that reflected the stages of change were generated by subjecting offenders’ responses on the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale (URICA; McConnaughy, DiClemente, Prochaska, & Velicer, 1989; McConnaughy, Prochaska, & Velicer, 1983) to hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis. At pre-SMP, the Ambivalent, Non-Reflective Action, Precontemplation, Preparticipation and Participation profiles were generated. At post-SMP, the same profiles were generated with the exception of the Non-Reflective Action profile. These stage profiles were consistent with profiles elicited in previous studies, and mapped well onto the SoC model. The majority of offenders were in the precontemplation stage (represented by the Ambivalent, Non-Reflective Action and Precontemplation profiles), whereas a smaller proportion were in the preparation (represented by the Preparticipation profile) and action stages (represented by the Participation profile). For the second aim, stage profiles obtained at pre- and post-SMP were then used to investigate stage movement following the SMP, by constructing a stage-transition matrix. There was evidence for offenders with different stage profiles showing different responses to the SMP, whereby a comparatively larger proportion of offenders with the Non-Reflective Action, Preparticipation and Participation profiles appeared to continue working on their offending problems or progressed to a more highly-motivated stage, compared to offenders with the Ambivalent and Precontemplation profiles. These findings indicated that there is a need for a more flexible approach to motivational interviewing to more effectively facilitate offenders’ motivation to work on their offending problems. Men with the Ambivalent and Precontemplation profiles may require further help to resolve their ambivalence towards changing, before cognitive behavioural content is introduced. For the third aim, stage profiles at pre- and post-SMP, and stage movements were examined as predictors of recidivism in three separate logistic regression analyses, controlling for salient demographic and risk variables. Men with profiles representing the precontemplation stage were less likely to reoffend compared to men with the Preparticipation profile. This study also found that men who remained in the precontemplation stage were less likely to reoffend than those who remained in the preparation and action stages. These results suggested that men with the Preparticipation profile (which represents the preparation stage) may still be experiencing some ambivalence towards changing their behaviour, thus, impacting on their readiness to change their offending behaviour. It also raised the question on whether men with the Participation profile (which represents the action stage) may be more externally motivated to change their behaviour resulting in less lasting change upon the completion of their sentences. These findings contributed to a more in-depth understanding of offenders’ stages of change, and demonstrated that these stages have important clinical implications in guiding assessment of offenders’ motivation to work on their offending problems, and tailoring rehabilitation programmes to increase treatment responsivity and improve outcomes.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    "You can't leave your life to chance" : transitioning from offending in emerging adults : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2017) Chong, May-Lee A
    There is currently limited very research about how emerging adult’s transition out of crime. This study interviewed nine emerging adults who successfully transitioned out of crime by the age of 25. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and transcribed verbatim. The data was analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Participants described their experience of transition as a build-up of distress combined with reasons to stop, shifts in perceptions around offending and their identity, a challenging process that they felt fortunate to have accomplished, a noticeable improvement in their lives and ongoing temptation or thoughts about offending. The results suggested three main findings; that the process of desistance is similar in emerging adults and adult populations, that there could be a universal mechanism of change underlying all behaviour, and that control theories may better explain desistance behaviour than dominant models of behaviour change such as the transtheoretical model of change.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Exploring Māori identity behind closed doors : an investigation of Māori cultural identity and offender change within Waikeria Prison's Māori Focus Unit, Te Aō Marama : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Clinical Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2014) Chalmers, Tess
    The Ministry of Justice (2013) continually reports an over-representation of Maori within the incarcerated population. An attempt to address these concerns led to the development of the Maori Focus Unit (MFU). The MFU aims to strengthen an offender’s Maori cultural identity through therapeutic programmes rich in tikanga Maori (customs), potentially resulting in offenders, once released from prison, leading pro-social, non-offending lifestyles (Department of Corrections, 2009b; Ministerial Review Report, 2005). However, limited studies inform the relationship between MFU participation, Maori cultural identity and offender change. The current research, based at Waikeria Prison’s MFU, Te Ao Marama, attempted to explore offender change through cultural identity theory of indigenous offending (Chalmers, Williams, & Gavala, 2012; Snowball and Weatherburn, 2008). This theory proposed that, through the destructive effects of colonisation, indigenous peoples lost aspects of their values, beliefs and traditions, while becoming acculturated into the colonising population. This was suggested to have resulted in a decrease in Maori cultural identity, wellbeing and pro-social behaviour, and an increase in anti-social attitudes, cognitions and behaviour (Gale, Bailey-Harris, & Wundersitz, 1990; Pearson, 2001). The current study employed a repeated measures research design in the naturalistic setting of Te Ao Marama. Quantitative measures explored the relationship between Maori cultural identity, wellbeing, anti-social cognitions and attitudes, and pro-social and anti-social behaviour over time spent in Te Ao Marama. Further, participant feedback generated through interviews explored what offenders believed contibuted to any changes experienced. Results suggested that offenders experienced a significant increase in Maori cultural identity, wellbeing and pro-social behaviour, and a significant decrease in anti-social attitudes, cognitions and behaviour over time spent in Te Ao Marama. Furthermore, offenders predominantly reported that their experience in Te Ao Marama had strengthened their Maori cultural identity, and that as a result, they had experienced the changes across the aforementioned constructs. In conclusion, the study may potentially provide information in the establishment of other therapeutic environments aimed at increasing Maori cultural identity.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    A brief intervention to reduce offending : the study of a faith-based programme : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2007) Lees, Jeffrey N
    Concern about the growing level and cost of criminal behaviour in New Zealand has resulted in a high priority being given to the research and development of effective interventions. The targeting of appropriate interventions to those at greatest risk of reoffending is identified as a key to successful outcomes. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Making Right Choices (MARC) programme in reducing offending of those at moderate to high risk of persisting in criminal conduct. MARC is a brief, faith-based, biblical approach to curtailing offending, developed at Tauranga Community Probation Service between 1993 and 2003. Seven recidivist male offenders, 19 – 26 years of age, volunteered to participate in this study. Five of the participants were prison inmates serving short sentences and two were on supervision in the community. Two risk measures (RoC*RoI and YLS/CLI) were used to ensure that participants met the medium/high risk criteria. In addition to attending the 10-session MARC course, participants were asked to undertake pre- and post-treatment assessments of antisocial attitudes, criminal associations and offending. Sessions were on average 60 minutes long, delivered one-on-one in an office setting. In addition to conviction history from the Law Enforcement System (LES), measures included the Measure of Criminal Attitudes and Associates (MCAA), the Social Problem Solving Inventory for Offenders (SPSIO), the Marlowe Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSDS) and the MARC Self-report Measure of Offending (MSMO). Follow-up assessment was carried out 6 months and 12 months after completion of the programme and/or release from prison. Results at six and twelve months after MARC showed that of the seven MARC participants, five had markedly reduced their offending on the selfreport measure, three had significantly less conviction on the LES measure, four recorded a distinct drop in contact with criminal companions and two had noticeably ameliorated their antisocial attitudes. Five participants were able to describe ways they had been helped by the programme. While the limitations of the methods preclude certainty about this programme’s effectiveness, the positive outcomes provide tentative support to the hypothesis that facilitating spiritual change can be an effective way to bring about cognitive and behavioural change with recidivist offenders.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Behaviour change : identifying the external factors which help direct the effective management of stopping reoffending or help maintain recidivism : a study of driver offenders who have made a decision to stop driving while disqualified : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Social Work at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2000) Smith, Robyna June
    The prediction of criminal behaviour is perhaps one of the most central issues in the New Zealand Department of Corrections today. In order to understand more fully the human diversity involved in criminal activity, the current focus is on the psychology of criminal conduct and the internal variables operating to maintain this behaviour. Given the usefulness of combining a variety of predictors of criminal behaviour, both internal and external, the study attempts to redress the gap that appears to have emerged with the concentration on internal predictor variables. This endeavour is on a small scale. The research participants are a group of eight (8) recidivist driver offenders, who have completed the nine week phase of the Driver Offender Treatment (DOT) programme and ten (10) support people. An inquiry reveals their understanding of the external factors which either direct the course of recidivism or the effective management of their decision to stop driving while disqualified. The central argument, and one that has provided the motivation to carry out this study, is that external factors, such as support people, play a major part in the lives of offenders who have decided to stop or significantly reduce their reoffending. In the management of sentences, the Community Probation service has traditionally targeted its resources to the offender. The assumption of the current study is that factors operating in the offender's environment are also instrumental in the goal of reducing reoffending. It is proffered that these factors are given more emphasis in practice and resourcing issues. The present study is an exploratory one, with responses elicited from a sample of recidivist driver offenders and the people they identify as their key support people. Semi-structured individual, face-to-face interviews are instrumental in this process. The research project explores the concepts and themes that emerge, which are based on the perceptions of both groups of people. Commentary and research findings on the issues facing the target client group are also examined and the connections between this material and the perceptions of the research participants and their support people are investigated. Two major findings of the study lend support firstly, to the critical part that external factors play in the process of behaviour change when treatment is provided for disqualified drivers who are sufficiently motivated to stop driving. Secondly, findings support the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioural model which combines elements of the principles of constructivism and plays a vital role in the intervention of high-risk offenders. It is found that it is this combination of factors which directs the effective management of the decision to stop driving while disqualified. It is hoped that the outcomes of this inquiry will have positive implications for professional practice and social policy for rehabilitation programmes in the Corrections arena.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Therapist relational skills and client resistance in a short motivational programme for offenders : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Clinical Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand.
    (Massey University, 2013) Provan, Hagan Ross
    Developing a better understanding of client resistance, and better evidence-based practise principles for dealing with resistance, have the potential to increase the efficacy of psychotherapy. There has been very limited research into client resistance, and even less which has investigated the link between therapist behaviours and resistance. The limited research to date has been conflicting and has primarily focused on narrowly operationalised definitions of resistance, as well as limiting measurement of therapist behaviours to therapist technical skills rather than interpersonal skills. There is little research investigating specific therapist relational skills that contribute to or reduce the likelihood of client resistance, and how this in-session interpersonal dynamic takes place. This study utilised a multi-method design to investigate the relationship between a number of therapist relational skills (therapist empathy-perspective taking, therapist empathy-attunement, and therapist resistance) and client resistance. Resistance was defined as oppositional behaviour within the session, or lack of engagement with the other member of the dyad, and perceived as the outcome of an interpersonal process. DVDs of therapy sessions were accessed from a from a Short Motivational Programme run by the Department of Corrections in New Zealand. Each of the DVDs was coded on a minute by minute basis, using measures of therapist interpersonal skills and client resistance. The study also measured the working alliance. The analysis combined: a group analysis of broad patterns across the dyads; a single case analysis involving a visual analysis of graphed data, supplemented with descriptive statistics; and a narrative analysis of client-therapist dialog. The results showed that therapist resistance and client resistance were strongly and positively related. The relationship between the two variables was also found to be temporally proximal at the level of a one minute segment. There was also a strong, but inverse relationship, between therapist empathy and client resistance, and again, the relationship was temporally proximal at the level of the one minute segment. Therapist resistance, especially, was closely synchronised to client resistance in terms of the timing of onset and cessation, and was also synchronised in terms of the level (intensity) of the two measures. The findings provide evidence for the idea that client resistance is often the result of an interpersonal dynamic, rather than simply an intrapersonal characteristic, and can be contributed to by poor therapist relational skills. The results showed that either therapist or client resistance can appear first, and tend to elicit resistance from the other member of the dyad (and lack of perspective taking by the therapist), which in turn elicits further resistance from the other dyad member. This appears to set in place a conflictual interpersonal dynamic that tends not to cease until the therapist stops resisting the client’s message, and takes a more empathic-perspective taking stance. The results also suggested that therapist perspective taking and therapist resistance may be specific interpersonal dynamics contributing to successful/unsuccessful therapist confrontations.