Background to the Research

• The Upper Springfield Development Trust's Tús Nua - New Start - project addresses the training and employment needs of former political prisoners in the Upper Springfield area.

Research Approach

• Former prisoners were involved as field workers, as a peer-based approach was most likely to accurately identify former prisoners and sensitively ask them about their needs. Also, relationships formed within prison are still strong after release, and so ex-prisoners were able to easily identify other ex-prisoners.
• A snowballing technique was used - all former prisoners identified were then asked for other contacts. Contact was also made with various clubs and support groups, along with adverts in local and republican newspapers.
• 640 former prisoners were contacted, representing 5.7% of the Upper Springfield population, and 11% of the population over 24 years of age.
• The project team felt that 10% of the research population would yield enough information, so 60 questionnaires were distributed and 54 were returned (response rate of 90%)
• A simple questionnaire was designed asking questions on sentence length, employment history, skills base and services required.
  

Main Findings

• 20% of respondents were first imprisoned when they were children.
• Imprisonment has had extremely negative effects on employment prospects - 88% had experienced long term unemployment. However, 48% have found employment, although this is most likely to be short-term.
• The longer the length of imprisonment the more likely former prisoners were to have problems in accessing employment.
• Problems faced on release related to lack of work experience, security issues, feeling unsettled and living on a day-to-day basis. Prisoners who have served shorter sentences faced most problems adapting to life. These problems declined with time, suggesting that assistance should be offered immediately after release. Some former prisoners need counselling and help with family skills, and self-help structures are the most appropriate way to provide this help.
• Former prisoners can play a role in developing their communities economically, socially and politically.

Policy issues

• There should be resources put into employment projects, designed in consultation with former prisoners, and include fast-track apprenticeships, career mentoring and small business development.
• Employers should be educated about the experience of restlessness by former prisoners, and fears of personal security.
• There is a need for an amnesty process so that former prisoners do not suffer discrimination in seeking employment. Discrimination on the grounds of imprisonment due to the conflict should be prohibited by law.
• Information on counselling should be more widely available so that perceived stigma can be reduced.
• Government and statutory agencies should have contact with ex-prisoners' self-help groups to provide extra resources for prisoners due to be released in the next two years.