![ABSTRACT
In the past years, His Majesty’s Prison & Parole Service (HMPPS) has experienced a growth in the number of foreign national offenders (FNOs) who speak limited English or no English (Hunter et al., 2022). Studies to date show that inability to communicate may lead to increased rates of mental health problems, self-harm, and suicides among prisoners (Martínez-Gómez, 2018; Valero-Garcés, 2018). Unfortunately, little is known about language assistance offered by HMPPS.
In this presentation I will present preliminary findings from a research project that investigates, how prisons ensure language access to vital services such as healthcare, legal counselling, complaints procedures or education. I will draw from both survey data of prison staff as well as ethnographic data from prison visits conducted in cooperation with HMPPS Diversity & Inclusion throughout 2023 and 2024. [Read more at the link.]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GY558HJWUAAuoT4.png?name=small&format=webp)
ALT ABSTRACT In the past years, His Majesty’s Prison & Parole Service (HMPPS) has experienced a growth in the number of foreign national offenders (FNOs) who speak limited English or no English (Hunter et al., 2022). Studies to date show that inability to communicate may lead to increased rates of mental health problems, self-harm, and suicides among prisoners (Martínez-Gómez, 2018; Valero-Garcés, 2018). Unfortunately, little is known about language assistance offered by HMPPS. In this presentation I will present preliminary findings from a research project that investigates, how prisons ensure language access to vital services such as healthcare, legal counselling, complaints procedures or education. I will draw from both survey data of prison staff as well as ethnographic data from prison visits conducted in cooperation with HMPPS Diversity & Inclusion throughout 2023 and 2024. [Read more at the link.]













