Postgraduate student Amy Coyle has recently had an article published in The Psychologist, the official magazine of the British Psychological Society, based on a coursework assignment she submitted as part of her MSc Forensic Psychology degree. Amy used her policy review coursework on the Psychology and the Criminal Justice System module to form the basis of an article on the extent to which a policy recently introduced by His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service is neurodivergent-friendly.
Amy’s review considers whether the Incentives Policy Framework (IPF), designed to help prisoners to such as extended recreational time, is appropriate and effective for prisoners who are neurodivergent. While the IPF is acknowledged as being grounded in psychological theory and research on behaviour modification, Amy argues that its effectiveness in encouraging good behaviour and supporting rehabilitation is contingent upon the extent to which it can meet the diverse psychological needs of prisoners.
To ensure that the IPF is more inclusive, Amy proposes five recommendations:
- Tailored and flexible incentives
- Increased neurodiversity awareness and staff training
- Transparent and consistent criteria
- Systematic data collection and evaluation
- Increased access and alternative delivery
Aside from studying for her MSc, Amy is An Assistant Psychologist at London-based Forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, as well as serving as a Prison Link Worker for a Community Drug and Alcohol Service, with experience of working with neurodivergent individuals in community and custodial settings.
The assessment for the Psychology and the Criminal Justice System module reflects the programme’s aim of creating authentic assessments that can lead to creation of meaningful, useable knowledge. This is also reflected in Amy’s development of her coursework assessment on another module, the Psychology of Desistance and Reintegration, into a manuscript submitted for review to The Journal of Forensic Practice.For more details of the MSc Forensic Psychology degree, please contact Dr Jo Kenrick and Dr Ewa Stefanska who co-lead the programme.