The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted connections between justice-involved individuals and their families while straining professional support systems. This study aims to explore 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 used 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 centring 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.
