Dying in Prison: Deaths from Natural Causes in Prison Culture, Regimes and Relationships

Description

This book uses empirical data gathered using ethnographic methods in two contrasting prisons to provide a rare insight into death and dying in prisons in the UK.  The majority of deaths in prison custody in England and Wales result from natural causes, yet the experiences of people dying in prison and the impact of these deaths on the wider prison are under-researched areas. It provides a novel insight into the impact of deaths from natural causes on the prison as an institution and  challenges existing work juxtaposing occupational philosophies of ‘care’ and ‘control’. It also identifies how end of life care is provided in prisons and the impact this has on culture and relationships  shows how deaths from natural causes in prison custody ‘soften’ prison regimes, culture and relationships. It speaks to an international audience by drawing on the global literature including from the US. Foreword Acknowledgements Contents 1 Introduction Background Rationale and Aims Personal Story: Insider Status Boundaries and Definitions Prison Culture, Regimes and Relationships The Study The Prisons The Hospitals Five Prisoners Data Collection Outline of the Book References 2 The Carceral Geography of Death and Dying in Prison Custody The Physical Environment of the Prison Wing Prison Healthcare Centres Prison Palliative Care Suites Hospitals and Hospices Expectations of Location and Understandings Derived from Location The Rarity of Release to Die at Home and the Desire for a Better Setting Conclusion References 3 The Governance of Mortality Authority Custom and Cultural Expectations Prison ‘Rules’ The Use of Restraints Discretion and Dealing with ‘Rule-Failure’ Conclusion References 4 Constructing the Dying Prisoner Defining Expectations of Death and Dying in Prison Custody Dominant Status: ‘Prisoner’, ‘Patient’ or ‘Person’? Seeing the ‘Prisoner’ Stigmatized Individuals Security Considerations and Prison ‘Rules’ The Deprivation of Autonomy Seeing the ‘Patient’ or ‘Person’ Sympathy Constructing the Family Man: The Influence of a Prisoner’s Family Conclusion References 5 Caring at the End of Life in Prison Custody The Caring Culture ‘Heroic’ Care Talk The Community Around the Dying: Caring Relationships? Trying to Make Death “as Good as It Could Be” The Practical Limitations of Care The Implications of Security Considerations Adjusting the Regime Medical Confidentiality and Dealing with DNR Conclusion References 6 Evaluating End of Life Care in Prison Custody The Ideal of ‘Equivalence’ Constructing Care as ‘Better’ in Prison Constructing Care as ‘Worse’ The Expectation of Investigation Conclusion References 7 After a Death Constructing the Dead Prisoner The Status of the Dead Prisoner’s Body Grievable or Not? Caring for Those Affected Caring for the Family Providing, Receiving and Not Receiving Support in the Prison Memorialising the Dead The Place of Death in the Prisons’ Culture Conclusion References 8 Conclusion Key Questions Factors Determining Response to Dying Prisoners Impacts of Deaths from Natural Causes on Prison Regimes, Culture and Relationships Contribution and Impact Limitations and Recommendations for Further Research Final Remarks References Appendix: Researching Dying Prisoners Ethical Issues in Researching End of Life Risks to Participants and Researcher Informed Consent Anonymity Confidentiality Data Storage Ethical Approval Ethics in Practice—Ethically Important Moments Conclusion References Glossary Index