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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.