Lucy Strang is a research leader at RAND Europe, focusing on criminal justice and drug policy research. She is currently a Co-Principal Investigator of a NIHR grant to evaluate the first three years of the treatment and recovery portfolio of the UK Government’s 10-year drug strategy. Lucy has extensive experience in leading research studies for the UK Government, including a major study for the UK Ministry of Justice on the use of Out of Court Disposals to support vulnerable adults, process evaluations of prison drug testing regimens and support programmes for prisoners who use drugs. She has expertise in conducting systematic reviews, most recently on the impact of law enforcement on drug-related violence, for the Home Office. She also recently led a study on approaches to measuring police performance in nine countries. Lucy has also conducted research for US, Australian and European governments, including a comparative study examining approaches to drug misuse treatment in Switzerland, Canada, the United States, England and Wales, Germany, Australia and the Netherlands. She holds a BA in law and humanities and an MSSc in applied anthropology and participatory development, all from the Australian National University.

Abstract

Shaping a model for incentivised drug-free living wings in prison

Incentivised drug-free living (ISFL) wings are dedicated prison units that use incentives to support prisoners who want to carry out their sentence drug-free. In practice, the design and operation of ISFLs vary considerably. This study sought to shape the ISFL model by taking a case study approach to understanding the lived experience of staff and prisoners in three prisons in England and Wales. The research team conducted 21 interviews with prison staff, 18 interviews and five focus groups with ISFL residents and prisoners in other wings, and observations in ISFL wings. Among the incentives, opportunities for talking therapies, particularly peer-led, were reported by residents to be most effective. Positive relationships between residents and wing staff and opportunities for socialising and productive activities contributed to a sense of community. Stability in the ISFL environment was disrupted by inconsistent application of policies around referral criteria for recruitment of prisoners to ISFLs and in dealing with positive drug tests. Recommendations included: incentives focused on a support offer tailored to residents’ needs; consistent staffing by experienced, appropriately trained officers who are committed to the ISFL ethos; clear and transparent processes for the recruitment of residents to ISFLs and responding to positive drug tests; and sex-specific guidance on the design and implementation of ISFLs, informed by evidence on the needs of women who use drugs in prison.