Doing prison research: an ethical, practical and emotional maze

Having spent the last few months navigating access into a prison and then conducting the first set of interviews, I wanted to reflect on a range of challenges inherent in doing this type of research. These range from considering complex ethical issues to the practicalities of doing research in a prison, to the emotionally difficult work of researching men who committed serious sexual offences.

1. Ethics

In order to do research in a prison, I had to submit the relevant paperwork to the University’s Ethics Committee. This was reasonably straightforward, perhaps because I have conducted prison research in the past and therefore was familiar with the issues I needed to consider. For example, prisoners need to be informed that although what they tell me is confidential, I am legally obligated to report any previously unreported crimes. Even very basic ethical issues like participants needing to contact the researcher are difficult in the prison context. I cannot give the participants my contact details, so they have to contact me via a staff member or their wing research representative.

2. Practicalities

First of all, prison research is time-consuming. And by that I mean very time consuming. Although interviews last no more than an hour, and I never do more than two a day, each trip requires a full day to be cleared. The prison is not easy to reach by public transport, so it takes a good 90 minutes to get to the gates. Then it takes another 30 minutes to get in, as any mobile telephones and other electronic devices have to be left in a locker. On the way back, I need to wait another 20-25 minutes for a taxi to pick me up from the prison (remember, no phones are allowed in, and having no idea when I will finish with the interviews, I cannot pre-arrange a taxi).

Secondly, audio-recording devices have to be pre-approved, but at least this means that I can record interviews! Thirdly, there are the security practicalities. I interview the men one-to-one, and need to be aware of where the panic button is in each room, just in case I ever feel unsafe. Then again, as one officer said, “just scream loudly and we will run over”!

3. Emotions

My current project explores the experiences of men serving prison sentences for sex offences, focusing specifically on those who were themselves victims of sexual abuse. This is an emotionally heavy research topic, and I often hear about very traumatic pasts, including not just accounts of being sexually victimised but also suicidal thoughts and self-harm. Another man described, in great detail, his offences: sexual offences against children. Listening to such accounts is difficult and it is important that anyone doing research in this area has a plan in place for de-briefing with someone or otherwise ensuring that they practice self-care.

On a very basic level, I found it useful to talk to friends and family, ensure I have a supply of chocolate and feel-good movies when I need them, and allowing some time (days/a week) to pass before conducting each interview and transcribing it.