Dual harm among prisoners: Understanding the risk factors and pathways linking harm to self and harm to others

Suicide, self-harm and violence within prisons are at exceptionally high levels. Recent NTU research demonstrated that nearly half of prisoners who harm in one way, will also harm in another whilst in prison, usually within a short timescale (Slade, 2017) but the nature and reasons for engaging in both behaviours are poorly understood. Furthermore, theoretical models and assessments relevant to either self-harm or violent behaviour are not directly transferrable to this high-risk sample, nor do they capture the differing presentation of factors within an incarcerated sample.

This PhD project proposes to investigate the characteristics and risk pathways of dual harm prisoners, with a view to developing an integrated risk model. It will investigate the applicability of existing theoretical frameworks to dual harm behaviour adopting a mixed-method approach to explore the personal characteristics and risk factors for dual harm behaviours, whilst exploring the role of offending and environmental factors in mitigating or aggravating risk presentation.

This PhD will provide unique insight into the risk management and intervention needs of this high-profile group. This can provide international prison services with an evidence base to develop organizational and individual approaches to mitigate risk and provide effective intervention responses to dual harm risk.

Research within the Psychology Department at NTU is flourishing, being one of the top risers in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework. All of our applied research impact was rated as either world leading (73%) or internationally excellent (27%). We house over 70 PGR students and offer extensive training including specialist training in relation to particular methods or analyses (e.g., structural equation modelling). The successful PhD student will also be invited to join the vibrant and far-reaching forensic research group, SOCAMRU, so that they are part of the research culture within the Department.

Specific qualifications/subject areas required of the applicants for this project:
Entrants must have a first/undergraduate Honours degree, with an Upper Second Class or a First Class grade, in Psychology. Entrants with a Lower Second Class grade at first degree must also have a postgraduate Masters Degree at Merit, preferably in forensic or clinical psychology or a related area.

This studentship competition is open to applicants who wish to study for a PhD on a full-time basis only. The studentship will pay UK/EU fees (currently set at £4,195 for 2017/18 and are revised annually) and provide a maintenance stipend linked to the RCUK rate (this is revised annually and is currently set at £14,553 for the academic year 2017/18) for up to three years. Applications from non-EU students are welcome, but a successful non-EU candidate would be responsible for paying the difference between non-EU and UK/EU fees. (Fees for 2017/18 are £12,900 for non-EU students and £4,195 for UK/EU students). The studentships will be expected to commence in October 2018.