Description: With the arrival of two new prisons, Dendermonde-Nieuw and Haren, we are on the eve of many changes. In terms of infrastructure, vision, penitentiary staff, and new possibilities, there are many opportunities to be seized. The ESF project 'Towards a new vision on detention: Dendermonde-Nieuw and Haren', wants to examine the impact on the (organization of) help and services, staff, and incarcerated persons.
For this purpose a mixed-methods research will be conducted. A survey research, will map the needs and requirements of incarcerated persons in both prisons. Further, interviews and focus groups will be conducted with stakeholders. Through Street Participatory Action Research focusing on Qualitative Inquiry, incarcerated persons will be actively involved during each phase of the research to study their needs, desires, and dreams. Therefore, this research method aims to obtain social change and practice improvements through the setting up of experiments in the prisons.
Coordinator: Elieze Termote
Promotors: An-Sofie Vanhouche, Kristel Beyens
Researchers: Elieze Termote, Lennert De Boe
Partners: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Vlaams Agentschap Justitie en Handhaving, Europa WSE (ESF)
Funding: Europa WSE (ESF)
Duration: September 2022 – Juni 2025