"Healing on Both Sides": Strengthening the Effectiveness of Prison–Indigenous Community Partnerships Through Reciprocity and Investment

Indigenous Peoples globally experience acute criminal justice inequities.

“Indigenous Peoples globally experience acute criminal justice inequities (Lockwood et al., 2018;Nielsen & Robyn, 2003;Office of the Correctional Investigator, 2012).”

• cites Lockwood et al., 2018 sourceSupported
• cites Nielsen & Robyn, 2003Not checked — no full text of the source
• cites Office of the Correctional Investigator, 2012Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Since 2012, wardens have pooled small amounts from their institutional budgets to sustain the initiative.

“For example, we learned that, since 2012, wardens have pooled small amounts from their institutional budgets to sustain the initiative.”

When staff and leadership under-delivered on feedback, meaningfulness was undermined.

“When staff and leadership under-delivered on feedback, meaningfulness was undermined.”

Participating men had fewer serious institutional charges compared to the general prison population.

“As shown in Figure 1, participating men had fewer transfers to higher security and fewer serious charges compared to the general prison population.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The general prison population in the institutions where the initiative was implemented is a valid comparison group for participating men on transfers to higher security and serious institutional charges.
• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The 60 men for whom complete outcome data were available are representative of all approximately 100 men who participated in the initiative.
• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Participation in the initiative, rather than other factors, accounts for the observed differences in transfers to higher security and serious institutional charges between participating men and the general prison population.

Under-delivery of feedback had the potential to cause harm, as the men felt distrust towards correctional staff and leaders.

“This had the potential to cause harm, as the men felt distrust towards correctional staff and leaders, and many had previous experiences of feeling exploited.”

The program provided opportunities for communities to help incarcerated men to heal.

“Findings suggest that the program positively affected the men's identities and provided opportunities for communities to help incarcerated men to heal; both sets of stakeholders see potential to strengthen the program.”

Participating men had fewer transfers to higher security compared to the general prison population.

“As shown in Figure 1, participating men had fewer transfers to higher security and fewer serious charges compared to the general prison population.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The general prison population in the institutions where the initiative was implemented is a valid comparison group for participating men on transfers to higher security and serious institutional charges.
• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The 60 men for whom complete outcome data were available are representative of all approximately 100 men who participated in the initiative.
• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Participation in the initiative, rather than other factors, accounts for the observed differences in transfers to higher security and serious institutional charges between participating men and the general prison population.

The initiative is at least as positive for Indigenous as well as non-Indigenous men in terms of correctional measures.

“Although the sample size is small, data suggest that the initiative is at least as positive for Indigenous as well as non-Indigenous men in terms of correctional measures.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The general prison population in the institutions where the initiative was implemented is a valid comparison group for participating men on transfers to higher security and serious institutional charges.
• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The 60 men for whom complete outcome data were available are representative of all approximately 100 men who participated in the initiative.
• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Participation in the initiative, rather than other factors, accounts for the observed differences in transfers to higher security and serious institutional charges between participating men and the general prison population.

Many of the men were apprehensive about whether the initiative was truly benefiting communities.

“Further, within a wider culture of distrust, many of the men were apprehensive about whether the initiative was truly benefiting communities.”

The impacts of the initiative both achieved and exceeded the goals and expectations for mutual benefit for the men and communities.

“The impacts of the initiative both achieved and exceeded the goals and expectations for mutual benefit for the men and communities.”

In several institutions where feedback was effectively sustained by the executive director of the non-profit and CSC staff, the men experienced the initiative in meaningful ways.

“In several institutions where feedback was effectively sustained by the executive director of the non-profit and CSC staff, the men experienced the initiative in meaningful ways.”

The men saw participation in the initiative as a choice in an otherwise severely constrained environment.

“The men saw participation as a choice in an otherwise severely constrained environment.”

The extent to which the men received feedback about the First Nation shaped their experience of the work and its impact.

“Thus, the extent to which the men received feedback about the First Nation shaped their experience of the work and its impact.”

Due to separation, delivery and updates were not equitable across all six communities.

“Due to this separation, delivery and updates were not equitable across all six communities.”

The communities experienced far more than simple gratitude for the donated items.

“The communities experienced far more than simple gratitude for the donated items (Brown et al., 2020).”

• cites Brown et al., 2020Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Some community members did not know items were made by men in prison.

“However, some did not know items were made by men in prison.”

Community members saw the act of receiving items as a way of supporting the men's healing.

“Indeed, community members saw the act of receiving items as a way of supporting the men's healing.”

The opportunity to 'do good' was profoundly important to the men's evolving identities.

“The opportunity to “do good” was profoundly important to the men's evolving identities.”

As staff observed the men's initial commitment evolve, staff commitment grew.

“As staff observed the men's initial commitment evolve, staff commitment grew.”

Frequent movement of men across and between institutions meant that individuals could participate for months or even years without seeing the presentation.

“While critical to enhancing impacts, frequent movement of men across and between institutions meant that individuals could participate for months or even years without seeing the presentation;”

Prison champions, ranging from senior executives to those who directly supervise the men, have primarily sustained momentum for the initiative.

“Because the initiative began within the CSC, prison champions-ranging from senior executives to those who directly supervise the men-have primarily sustained momentum.”

Of the 37 men who participated in the initiative over the three-year period who were not already in minimum security at the start, 23 successfully transferred to lower security during that period.

“Furthermore, it was notable that, of the 37 men who participated in the initiative over the three-year period who were not already in minimum security at the start of the three-year period, 23 of these men were able to successfully transfer to lower security during that period.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The 60 men for whom complete outcome data were available are representative of all approximately 100 men who participated in the initiative.

Apart from occasional visits by CSC program champions, all communication was conducted through the non-profit distribution partner.

“Apart from occasional visits by CSC program champions, all communication was conducted through the non-profit distribution partner.”

Without any direct contact with the men, and with limited contact with CSC staff, the communities learned about the men only through infrequent non-profit events within the urban distribution centre.

“Without any direct contact with the men, and with limited contact with CSC staff, the communities learned about the men only through infrequent non-profit events within the urban distribution centre.”

A lack of correctional funding limited direct engagement in the initiative.

“Even in the context of an initiative specifically aimed at connecting incarcerated men and Indigenous communities through the giving and receiving of items, a lack of correctional funding limited direct engagement.”

For both Indigenous and non-Indigenous men, the initiative provided opportunities to engage with teachings that supported healing.

“however, for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous men, the initiative provided opportunities to engage with teachings that supported healing.”

The men's ability to engage with the project and learn about where items were going was inconsistent across institutions, depending on staff interest in the program and frequency of visits from non-profit staff sharing images of community distribution events.

“The men's ability to engage with the project and learn about where items were going was inconsistent across institutions, depending on staff interest in the program and frequency of visits from non-profit staff sharing images of community distribution events.”

The program positively affected the men's identities.

“Findings suggest that the program positively affected the men's identities and provided opportunities for communities to help incarcerated men to heal; both sets of stakeholders see potential to strengthen the program.”

In our study, both men and community members were interested in direct connection.

“In our study, we found that both men and community members were interested in direct connection,”

The men repeatedly pointed to a lack of feedback about where the goods were going and how the communities responded.

“The men repeatedly pointed to a lack of feedback about where the goods were going and how the communities responded.”

Reliance on a non-profit to fulfill distribution outcomes and knowledge sharing impacted community benefit.

“This meant it was necessary to rely on a non-profit, which lacked clear oversight, to fulfill the distribution outcomes and knowledge sharing, which impacted community benefit.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The non-profit relied on to fulfill distribution outcomes and knowledge sharing lacked clear oversight.

The initiative's momentum has ebbed and flowed depending on staff commitment and staff members' capacity to sustain their involvement in light of priorities mandated by their job descriptions, federal policies, and work culture, as well as ongoing personnel changes and related disruptions within the institutions.

“Overall, the initiative's momentum has ebbed and flowed depending on staff commitment and the staff members' capacity to sustain their involvement in light of priorities mandated by their job descriptions, federal policies, and work culture, as well as ongoing personnel changes and related disruptions within the institutions.”

The men's deep distrust towards CSC was evident in the data.

“The men's deep distrust towards CSC was evident in the data.”

Some community members perceived there to be unfairness and inequitable benefit because decisions around distribution were not transparent and information about the initiative was inconsistent.

“For example, some community members perceived there to be unfairness and inequitable benefit because decisions around distribution were not transparent and information about the initiative was inconsistent.”

Both sets of stakeholders see potential to strengthen the program.

“Findings suggest that the program positively affected the men's identities and provided opportunities for communities to help incarcerated men to heal; both sets of stakeholders see potential to strengthen the program.”

The level of information sharing influenced the impacts on the men.

“The level of information sharing influenced the impacts on the men.”

When engagement was consistent, the partnership with the First Nation offered potential to build trust and relationships, including the men's relationships to and trust in the program.

“When engagement was consistent, the partnership with the First Nation offered potential to build trust and relationships, including the men's relationships to and trust in the program.”

The impacts on the First Nation went far beyond the gratitude anticipated in the initial charitable model.

“our research found the impacts on the First Nation went far beyond the gratitude anticipated in the initial charitable model (Brown et al., 2020).”

• cites Brown et al., 2020Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Staff commitment was connected to what they saw as the initiative's value and impact.

“Staff commitment was connected to what they saw as the initiative's value and impact.”

In cases where the men had access to information about the initiative, individual impacts were shaped by how the men understood the recipient children and families in relation to their own lives.

“In cases where the men had access to information about the initiative, individual impacts were shaped by how the men understood the recipient children and families in relation to their own lives;”

Sustainability of the initiative has depended on individual staff committed to contributing to the program off the sides of their desks.

“sustainability has depended on individual staff committed to contributing to the program”

Current efforts to strengthen opportunities for communication between the men and communities about community needs and priorities, and regarding distribution processes, can increase each party's investment.

“In this case, our study highlighted that current efforts to strengthen opportunities for communication between the men and communities about community needs and priorities, and regarding distribution processes, can increase each party's investment.”

The importance of social justice, equity, and cultural safety was highlighted throughout the study, both by men and community members who experienced the initiative as such and by those who experienced it as inequitable, non-transparent, or extractive.

“The importance of these concepts was highlighted throughout our study, both by men and community members who experienced the initiative as such—and therefore derived benefit—and by men and community members who experienced the initiative as inequitable, non-transparent, or extractive.”

Staff try to accommodate the initiative within their workload and CSC resources, policies, and institutional cultural norms.

“staff try to accommodate the initiative within their workload and CSC resources, policies, and institutional cultural norms.”

The initiative faced barriers to positive impact and sustainability.

“Our study highlighted barriers to positive impact and sustainability”

The initiative's impacts have been achieved despite the initiative being relatively new.

“Importantly, these impacts have been achieved despite the fact that the initiative is relatively new.”

Comparable data for the general prison population were not available for successful transfers to lower security.

“For the third indicator, successful transfers to lower security, comparable data for the general prison population were not available to support meaningful comparisons.”

Many community members relied on imagined impacts to frame their understanding.

“Therefore, many members relied on imagined impacts to frame their understanding.”

Problems arising from communication barriers highlighted the potential to enhance impact through increased reciprocity and relationship.

“and problems arising from communication barriers highlighted the potential to enhance impact through increased reciprocity and relationship.”

Complete data on selected outcomes were available for only 60 of approximately 100 men who had participated.

“Thus, we were only able to obtain complete data on the selected outcomes for 60 of the approximately 100 men who had participated in the initiative at the time of data collection (2015)(2016)(2017).”

The sample size is small.

“Although the sample size is small, data suggest that the initiative is at least as positive for Indigenous as well as non-Indigenous men in terms of correctional measures.”

Community members, unaware of where items came from or the full story of the men and their acts of giving, had less opportunity to address their biases towards incarcerated persons.

“Community members, unaware of where items came from or the full story of the men and their acts of giving, had less opportunity to address their biases towards incarcerated persons,”

Community-prison partnerships have potential to promote successful community reintegration.

“Although community-prison partnerships have potential to promote successful community reintegration (Duncan et al., 2009;Hall et al., 2018;Public Safety Canada, 2018b), partnerships are uncommon and, to our knowledge, there is limited evidence for implementation to optimize their potential.”

• cites Duncan et al., 2009Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Hall et al., 2018Not matched

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• cites Public Safety Canada, 2018bNot matched

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Increased reciprocity would enhance the benefits of indirect knowledge sharing.

“and increased reciprocity would enhance the benefits of indirect knowledge sharing.”

Prisons and communities are embedded within wider historical and ongoing colonial policy contexts, which sustain the disproportionate exposure of Indigenous Peoples to the determinants of crime.

“These dynamics are deepened by the fact that prisons and communities are embedded within wider historical and ongoing colonial policy contexts, which sustain the disproportionate exposure of Indigenous Peoples to the determinants of crime (Forrester et al., 2012;Schissel & Wotherspoon, 2003).”

• cites Forrester et al., 2012Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Schissel & Wotherspoon, 2003Not matched

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The initiative had potential to support healing, wellbeing, and community priorities in the partnering rural and remote Indigenous communities.

“as well as potential to support healing, wellbeing, and community priorities in the partnering rural and remote Indigenous communities.”

A recent Supreme Court Case ruling found that CSC measures are unfairly biased towards Indigenous Peoples.

“this is particularly important given a recent Supreme Court Case ruling that CSC measures are unfairly biased towards Indigenous Peoples (Ewert v. Canada, 2018).”

• cites Ewert v. Canada, 2018Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

This visibility has been key in supporting increased reciprocity and investment.

“This visibility has been key in supporting increased reciprocity and investment,”

The prison-community partnership initiative had potential to support healing and rehabilitation for incarcerated men participating across federal prisons in British Columbia.

“We found that the initiative had great potential to support healing and rehabilitation for incarcerated men participating across federal prisons in BC”

This positioning increases positive impacts as the men see their work as outside of the formal and punitive correctional system.

“and, in turn, increases positive impacts as the men see their work as outside of the formal and punitive correctional system.”