Prison Service Delivery Beyond Lockdown: Lessons Learned from People in Prison and Staff in the Offender Personality Disorders Pathway During COVID-19

Broome, Laura J, Dagnall, Rachael, Maruna, Shadd ORCID: 0000-0002-4978-7073, O'meara, Aisling, Lewis, Carine, Gillespie, Steven M ORCID: 0000-0001-7789-5381, Jones, Andrew, Tonkin, Matthew J and Davies, Jason (2026) Prison Service Delivery Beyond Lockdown: Lessons Learned from People in Prison and Staff in the Offender Personality Disorders Pathway During COVID-19 CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND BEHAVIOR. ISSN 0093-8548, 1552-3594

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Abstract

The Offender Personality Disorder Pathway (OPDP) in England and Wales supports individuals in prison with complex interpersonal and emotional regulation needs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this population faced heightened vulnerability, while prison officers encountered health risks, staffing shortages, and increased psychological strain. To explore how people living and working in prison coped under these conditions, 24 people in prison and 10 officers involved in OPDP services across English prisons participated in semi-structured interviews between 2021 and 2023. Using reflexive thematic analysis we generated four themes: (a) From Cohesion to Disconnection; (b) Bridging Divides: Finding Empathy in Crisis; (c) Contrasting Reflections: Growth and Strain; and (d) Support Gaps in Time of Crisis. The pandemic intensified existing challenges, but relational practices in the OPDP helped buffer its worst effects. Findings underscore the importance of trauma-informed communication, reflective leadership, and staff training to sustain relational safety and resilience during future system-wide crises in prison.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	trauma, behavior, prisoners, correctional staff, job satisfaction, mental health
Divisions:	Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences > School of Law and Social Justice Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences > School of Law and Social Justice > Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences > Faculty of Humanities & Social Sci (All T&R Staff) Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences > School of Law and Social Justice > School of Law and Social Justice (T&R Staff) Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Population Health Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Population Health > Primary Care & Mental Health Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Population Health > Inst. Population Health (T&R Staff)
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	29 Apr 2026 07:20
Last Modified:	23 May 2026 11:01
DOI:	10.1177/00938548261424375
Open Access URL:	https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/009385482...
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3198203
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