Summary

The BEYOND MISTAKES (BM) project aims to develop and evaluate a framework for supporting people in custody to develop their skills and mindset to prepare for life after prison. In doing so, BM aims to reduce reoffending amongst people with convictions.

The project draws from social identity theories that suggests people have multiple selves: who we are, who we want to be, and who we think we should be, all of which are dynamic and malleable. Additionally, BM leverages emerging technologies, such as wearable AI and extended reality to address issues caused by low digital literacy, perceptual and intellectual disabilities, and language barriers that affect many in the prison environment. 

In line with the “nothing about us, without us” approach, BM uses participatory research to incorporate the views of all stakeholders. Given the challenges of conducting research in prisons (e.g. access), BM will first conduct a series of interviews with people who are working in this area (including prison staff, researchers, artists, and support workers) to develop the co-creation protocol for workshops that will be used in the next phase to generate creative interventions with (and for) people with convictions.

BEYOND MISTAKES contributes to social resilience, safety, and security by empowering people with convictions and their communities and aims to reduce re-offending and crime.

For more information, please contact Dr Pejman Saeghe via pejman.saeghe@strath.ac.uk