Dealing with Inequality in a Post Conflict Prison Service Dr Michelle Butler Queen’s University Belfast

Background Organisations required to provide equality of opportunity for different ethnic, religious, etc. groups. Concern about the worse outcomes experienced by Roman Catholic prisoners in the Northern Irish Prison Service (NIPS). Research Aims: Uncover the explanations for this over-repesentation and the interpersonal dynamics involved

Methodology Mixed Methods: 34 Prisoner interviews 14 Staff interviews Informal discussions with staff and prisoners over 6mths Observations of adjudication hearings Analysis of administrative data

Results Number of explanations which interacted with each other: Lack of clarity surrounding prison policies Individual prisoner characteristics Legacy of the conflict Staff-prisoner relationships Approach of NIPS management

Ways Forward Recommendations included: Need more ‘tools in the box’ Incorporate a restorative problem-solving approach into the disciplinary system Improve training and provide clear guidance on implementation of policies Recognise legacy issue ‘Build bridges’ with staff and community organisations to improve relations and challenge in-group out-group stereotypes.