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Learning from disrupted connections: the impact of COVID-19 on relational and professional support in the female criminal justice system

Laura Broome Orcid Logo, Rachael Jayne Dagnall, Tara Naomi Emery-Baumber, Danielle George, Iduna Shah-Beckley

The Journal of Forensic Practice

Swansea University Author: Laura Broome Orcid Logo

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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted connections between justice-involved individuals and their families while straining professional support systems. This study explored the impact of these disruptions within the female criminal justice system, focusing on relational connectedness and examining staff pe...

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Published in: The Journal of Forensic Practice
ISSN: 2050-8794 2050-8808
Published: Emerald 2025
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69782
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spelling 2025-10-02T09:32:00.2852990 v2 69782 2025-06-20 Learning from disrupted connections: the impact of COVID-19 on relational and professional support in the female criminal justice system 5109c18f411b3e26761e3f300f2e5f4f 0000-0002-8405-254X Laura Broome Laura Broome true false 2025-06-20 PSYS The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted connections between justice-involved individuals and their families while straining professional support systems. This study explored the impact of these disruptions within the female criminal justice system, focusing on relational connectedness and examining staff perspectives on maintaining and adapting support structures during crisis.The study employed a qualitative approach, conducting interviews with nine UK prison and community-based staff to explore how individuals in the female justice system maintained connections prior to COVID-19, the impact of pandemic restrictions on these connections, and strategies to support continued contact with family, significant others, and external services. A reflexive thematic analysis, using an inductive approach, was applied to identify key themes from the data. The findings highlighted the pandemic’s profound impact in intensifying isolation, severing vital family connections, and exposing critical gaps in professional support. However, they also pointed to meaningful opportunities for positive change - demonstrating how digital solutions can enhance resilience and how enforced distance from harmful influences may offer a foundation for healthier future connections. This work underscores the need for coordinated, long-term support systems to foster connectedness for individuals in and leaving prison, with practical recommendations for enhancing access to housing, employment, and mental health services. By centering staff perspectives, the study offers original insights into strengthening relational connections and refining crisis responses, highlighting underexplored avenues to enhance rehabilitation outcomes in the female justice system Journal Article The Journal of Forensic Practice 0 Emerald 2050-8794 2050-8808 COVID-19, Connectedness, Relationships, Family, Reunification, Reintegration 16 6 2025 2025-06-16 10.1108/jfp-04-2025-0041 COLLEGE NANME Psychology School COLLEGE CODE PSYS Swansea University Not Required Morgan Advanced Studies Institute (MASI) 2025-10-02T09:32:00.2852990 2025-06-20T14:41:09.0151582 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Psychology Laura Broome 0000-0002-8405-254X 1 Rachael Jayne Dagnall 2 Tara Naomi Emery-Baumber 3 Danielle George 4 Iduna Shah-Beckley 5 69782__34535__83f2347d95034972aaff23c97ed4183d.pdf Learning from Disrupted Connections (AAM).pdf 2025-06-20T14:52:31.1909850 Output 322883 application/pdf Accepted Manuscript true Author accepted manuscript document released under the terms of a Creative Commons CC-BY licence using the Swansea University Research Publications Policy (rights retention). true eng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en 326
title Learning from disrupted connections: the impact of COVID-19 on relational and professional support in the female criminal justice system
spellingShingle Learning from disrupted connections: the impact of COVID-19 on relational and professional support in the female criminal justice system
Laura Broome
title_short Learning from disrupted connections: the impact of COVID-19 on relational and professional support in the female criminal justice system
title_full Learning from disrupted connections: the impact of COVID-19 on relational and professional support in the female criminal justice system
title_fullStr Learning from disrupted connections: the impact of COVID-19 on relational and professional support in the female criminal justice system
title_full_unstemmed Learning from disrupted connections: the impact of COVID-19 on relational and professional support in the female criminal justice system
title_sort Learning from disrupted connections: the impact of COVID-19 on relational and professional support in the female criminal justice system
author_id_str_mv 5109c18f411b3e26761e3f300f2e5f4f
author_id_fullname_str_mv 5109c18f411b3e26761e3f300f2e5f4f_***_Laura Broome
author Laura Broome
author2 Laura Broome
Rachael Jayne Dagnall
Tara Naomi Emery-Baumber
Danielle George
Iduna Shah-Beckley
format Journal article
container_title The Journal of Forensic Practice
container_volume 0
publishDate 2025
institution Swansea University
issn 2050-8794
2050-8808
doi_str_mv 10.1108/jfp-04-2025-0041
publisher Emerald
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str School of Psychology{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Psychology
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted connections between justice-involved individuals and their families while straining professional support systems. This study explored the impact of these disruptions within the female criminal justice system, focusing on relational connectedness and examining staff perspectives on maintaining and adapting support structures during crisis.The study employed a qualitative approach, conducting interviews with nine UK prison and community-based staff to explore how individuals in the female justice system maintained connections prior to COVID-19, the impact of pandemic restrictions on these connections, and strategies to support continued contact with family, significant others, and external services. A reflexive thematic analysis, using an inductive approach, was applied to identify key themes from the data. The findings highlighted the pandemic’s profound impact in intensifying isolation, severing vital family connections, and exposing critical gaps in professional support. However, they also pointed to meaningful opportunities for positive change - demonstrating how digital solutions can enhance resilience and how enforced distance from harmful influences may offer a foundation for healthier future connections. This work underscores the need for coordinated, long-term support systems to foster connectedness for individuals in and leaving prison, with practical recommendations for enhancing access to housing, employment, and mental health services. By centering staff perspectives, the study offers original insights into strengthening relational connections and refining crisis responses, highlighting underexplored avenues to enhance rehabilitation outcomes in the female justice system
published_date 2025-06-16T16:08:37Z
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