Hospitality education in New Zealand prisons

New Zealand has one of the highest imprisonment rates per capita when compared to the rest of the developed world. People who offend in New Zealand have a 43% chance of reoffending within the first 24 months of their release [1]. It is estimated that approximately 60% of people who offend have literacy and numeracy skills lower than the NCEA Level 1 competency, and 66% of adults have no formal qualifications [2, 3]. A focus on literacy and numeracy, support through baseline education, and specific trades like hospitality, can start to refine the options of a person who offends, further enabling them to start developing goals that will support their futures [4]. Since 2014, the Department of Corrections/Ara Poutama Aotearoa has been upgrading the prison-based educational programmes available to people who offend to achieve this. Goals have been set to integrate the in-prison education with the nationally recognised level of education along with practical elements such as kitchen work, housekeeping and other service-based vocations such as hairdressing and customer service. The courses are relatively short, ranging from six to 12 weeks, and provide key skills and the foundations for further study. Evidence from overseas has found that hospitality and, specifically, catering programmes are a tool that positively impacts the way people who offend engage with their rehabilitation; creating an experience through the sharing and giving of food is seen as a way to reintegrate and regain a sense of achievement and being of service through meaningful social connections and employment. Our study carried out a systematic literature review of the effectiveness of hospitality training and education in correctional facilities. Evidence was found of the effectiveness of educational programmes within prisons and their positive impact on recidivism. It was also found that hospitality training initiatives, such as those provided in prison training restaurants open to the public for dining, could offer a unique opportunity that allows people who offend to change the negative public perceptions held about them. In New Zealand, we have unique tikanga-based initiatives that support people who offend to reintegrate back into the public environment and their families, with reduced reoffending [5]. The literature showed, convincingly, that education leads to opportunities for post-release employment and the ability to manage work-life balance, reintegration into society, and gain skills that support long-term prosperity [3]. Czerniawski [6] sees education as a key step in making a positive change in the lives of people who offend, especially if followed by a period of post-release support. Our study also revealed the challenges of providing hospitality education in prisons. Prison security risks, risk of lockdowns, student mental health, lack of educational resources and support services, and lack of set-up and sustainable funding for educational programmes were seen as hindrances to the success of prison education programmes. Lack of post-release support and the negative stigma of people who offend perceived by the public and employers were further noted issues of concern. Likewise, prison culture, staff retention, general misconduct and mistrust were also cited as aspects of concern [7]. Giousmpasoglou and colleagues [8] suggested that people who offend would prefer education programmes that were carried out by external facilitators over in-prison programmes. The importance of networks between educators, support workers and employers are important in this regard. With the hospitality industry facing a skills shortage and with its low barriers to entry, there is potential to build upon the success of existing hospitality education programmes to build skills, pride and a second chance for those who are engaging in rehabilitation. There is also an opportunity to consider tertiary pathways for these hospitality graduates and entrepreneurs. Furthermore, the Department of Corrections/Ara Poutama Aotearoa could consider the success of initiatives such as The Clink Charity training restaurants in the UK in supporting rehabilitation through hospitality training and work. Corresponding author Madz Crouth can be contacted at: [email protected] References (1) Boomen, M. Where New Zealand Stands Internationally: A Comparison of Offence Profiles and Recidivism Rates. Practice: The New Zealand Corrections Journal 2018, 6 (1), 87–96. https://www.corrections.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/33449/Practice_Journal_Vol6_Iss1_July_2018_WEB.pdf (accessed Dec 1, 2021). (2) Corrections. Prison Facts and statistics – December 2020, 2020. https://www.corrections.govt.nz/resources/statistics/quarterly_prison_statistics/prison_stats_december_2020 (accessed Dec 1, 2021). (3) Corrections. Prison Facts and Statistics – March 2020, 2020. https://www.corrections.govt.nz/resources/statistics/quarterly_prison_statistics/prison_stats_march_2020 (accessed Dec 1, 2021). (4) Harkison, T.; McIntosh, A. Hospitality Training for Prisoners. Hospitality Insights 2019, 3 (1), 5–6. https://doi.org/10.24135/hi.v3i1.52 (5) Hamer, P.; Paul, J.; Hunia, M. Hōkai Rangi: Context and Background to the Development of Ara Poutama Aotearoa Strategy 2019–2024. Practice: The New Zealand Corrections Journal 2021, 8 (1), 18–22. https://www.corrections.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/43208/Practice_Journal_2021_Final_Web_Version.pdf (accessed Dec 1, 2021). (6) Czerniawski, G. A. Race to the Bottom – Prison Education and the English and Welsh Policy Context. Journal of Education Policy 2016, 31 (2), 198–212. https://doi.org/10.1080/02680939.2015.1062146 (7) Chui, W. H.; Cheng, K. K.-Y. The Mark of an Ex-Prisoner: Perceived Discrimination and Self-Stigma of Young Men after Prison in Hong Kong. Deviant Behavior 2013, 34 (8), 671–684. https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2013.766532 (8) Giousmpasoglou, C.; Brown, L.; Marinakou, E. Training Prisoners as Hospitality Workers: The Case of the CLINK Charity; Paper presented at the Travel & Tourism Research Association (TTRA) 2019: European Chapter Conference, 2019. http://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/31827/1/Giousmpasoglou-Brown-Marinakou_TTRA19_conference_Final.pdf (accessed Dec 1, 2021).

Aiming for Zero: Reducing Transmission of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in the D.C. Department of Corrections

Background Washington, District of Columbia lowered severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 transmission in its large jail while community incidence was still high Methods Coordinated clinical and operational interventions brought new cases to near zero. Results Aggressive infection control and underlying jail architecture can promote correctional coronavirus disease 2019 management. Conclusions More intensive monitoring could help confirm that in-house transmission is truly zero.

Exploring Online Health Reviews to Monitor COVID-19 Public Health Responses in Alabama State Department of Corrections: Case Example (Preprint)

BACKGROUND COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has devastated incarcerated people throughout the United States. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility and acceptability of a COVID-19 Health Review for Correctional Facilities. METHODS The COVID-19 Health Review survey for the Department of Corrections was developed in Qualtrics to assess the following: (1) COVID-19 testing, (2) providing personal protective equipment, (3) vaccination procedures, (4) quarantine procedures, (5) COVID-19 mortality rates for inmates, (6) COVID-19 mortality rates for correctional officers and prison staff, (7) COVID-19 infection rates for inmates, (8) COVID-19 infection rates for correctional officers and prison staff, and (9) uptake of COVID-19 vaccines. The estimated time to review the Alabama State Department of Corrections COVID-19 responses on their website and complete the survey items was 45 minutes to 1 hour. RESULTS Of the 21 participants who completed the COVID-19 Health Review for Correctional Facilities survey, 48% (n=10) identified as female, 43% (n=9) identified as male, and 10% (n=2) identified as transgender. For race, 29% (n=6) self-identified as Black or African American, 24% (n=5) Asian, 24% (n=5) White, 5% (n=1) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, and 19% (n=4) Other. In addition, 5 respondents self-identified as returning citizens. For COVID-19 review questions, the majority concluded that information on personal protective equipment was “poor” and “very poor,” information on COVID-19 testing was “fair” and above, information on COVID-19 death/infection rates between inmates and staff was “good” and “very good,” and information on vaccinations was “good” and “very good.” There was a significant difference observed (<i>P</i>=.03) between nonreturning citizens and returning citizens regarding the health grade review with respect to available information on COVID-19 infection rates. CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 health reviews may provide an opportunity for the public to review the COVID-19 responses in correctional settings.

Successful Transition to Life After Incarceration: A Pilot Program

Date Presented 04/7/21 A pilot for integrating OT into a Department of Corrections Community Supervision Center was implemented. This pilot sought to use OT assessment and intervention for justice-involved individuals to address skill building, increase problem solving, and further explore the needs and barriers to re-entry, including maintenance of supervision to prevent recidivism. This pilot highlighted a gap in life skills training for this population and this program's impact. Primary Author and Speaker: Ariana Gonzalez Additional Authors and Speakers: Megan Davis, Emily Gralinski, Stephanie Monforte,and Jacqueline Strausser

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Uptake in a Correctional Setting

Between December 2020 and February 2021, the Rhode Island Department of Corrections offered SARS-CoV-2 vaccination to all correctional staff and sentenced individuals incarcerated in the state. During this initial campaign, 76.4% (1106 / 1447) of sentenced individuals and 68.4% (1008 / 1474) of correctional staff accepted and received the vaccine. This study demonstrates the feasibility and efficiency of vaccine implementation in a carceral setting.

Assessing the Mortality Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Florida State Prisons

Background The increased risk of COVID-19 infection among incarcerated individuals due to environmental hazards is well known and recent studies have highlighted the higher rates of infection and mortality prisoners in the United States face due to COVID-19. However, the impact of COVID-19 on all-cause mortality rates in incarcerated populations has not been studied. Methods Using data reported by the Florida Department of Corrections on prison populations and mortality events we conducted a retrospective cohort study of all individuals incarcerated in Florida state prisons between 2015 and 2020. We calculated excess deaths by estimating age-specific expected deaths from mortality trends in 2015 through 2019 and taking the difference between observed and expected deaths during the pandemic period. We calculated life table measures using standard demographic techniques and assessed significant yearly changes using bootstrapping. Findings The Florida Department of Corrections reported 510 total deaths from March 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 among the state prison population. This was 42% higher (rate ratio 1.42, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.89) than the expected number of deaths in light of mortality rates for previous years. Reported COVID-19 deaths in a month were positively correlated with estimated excess deaths (80.4%, p <.01). Using age-specific mortality estimates, we found that life expectancy at age 20 declined by 4 years (95% CI 2.06-6.57) between 2019 and 2020 for the Florida prison population. Interpretation The Florida prison population saw a significant increase in all-cause mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic period, leading to a decrease in life expectancy of more than four years. Life years lost by the Florida prison population were likely far greater than those lost by the general United States population, as reported by other studies. This difference in years lost highlights the need for increased interventions to protect vulnerable incarcerated populations during pandemics. Funding Vital Projects Fund, Arnold Ventures, US Centers for Disease Control

Prison fixes and flows: Carceral mobilities and their critical logistics

This paper asks how the logics of globalized supply chains—particularly through fixes, risk, speed and stoppages, and motility—are articulated in carceral space. We employ critical logistics in conversation with carceral geographies and critical mobilities to examine prison transfers, the routine movement of incarcerated people between carceral sites, as a logistical system designed to fix carceral crises; which is to say, to make prisons viable. This work emerges from preliminary research on prison transfers, conducted from 2018 to 2019, including interviews with advocates and formerly incarcerated people and analysis of data and administrative documents obtained from the New York Department of Corrections, among others. First, we locate the emergence of contemporary practices of logistical transfer management (“transfer logistics”) in the prison boom of the 1980s–1990s. We then examine the present-day transfer system to consider how risk calculation and carceral fixes inform movement throughout prison constellations as well as how transfers disrupt the fragile worlding that happens in prisons. Finally, we turn to how these logics are being reshaped and reiterated in the era of neoliberal urban planning through “justice hubs.”

Uncontrolled Movements

The article is a discussion of the unforeseen effects of policies that Florida’s Department of Corrections has enacted over the past thirty years, specifically those concerning inmate movements to, inside, and from the institutional dining areas. It addresses the erosion of social norms among the incarcerated population as external rules have replaced informal social contracts, and the ways that prison administrators have exploited racial tensions to maintain control. The incarcerated author hopes to add an autoethnographic voice to the discussion in the literature of power dynamics in the third-largest prison system in the world.