Executive Summary
This report is based upon a programme of research that was undertaken with republican former prisoners in 2014. It included a survey of 51 persons, focus groups including men and women and follow-up interviews with survey respondents. The following are examples of some of the findings;
Within the sample ‘Determinate or Fixed-Term’ imprisonment was the most common type of incarceration (60.8%). More than a quarter (29.4%) had been interned, with a smaller proportion of respondents experiencing remand (23.5%) or Indeterminate/Life/Secretary of State’s Pleasure (13.7%)
The average length of time in prison was 7 years with the largest share of respondents (41.2%) being released in the 1980s.Around one in eight (11.6%) had been imprisoned for at least 16 years
As would be expected given labour market exclusion and issues relating to deprivation the majority of respondents (62.7%) live in rented accommodation, with29.4% living within their own home.In 2011 home ownership in NI was measured at67.5%or roughly 40% higher
In NI it has been estimated that ‘21% of the working age population claimed at least one key benefit’. Within this sample the bulk of respondents (68.7%) were in receipt of sickness/incapacity or unemployment benefit. Within that some two-thirds are claiming sickness/incapacity benefits
Only one in ten respondents agreed or strongly agreed that it had been easy for them to find the type of job that they are qualified for since release
Just 12% of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that the peace process has made it easier for former political prisoners to cope financially, emotionally and socially
Six in ten (56.9%) stated that their physical health is poor. This compares to one in ten within the NI population who stated that their health was bad or very bad
Almost two thirds stated that they had accomplished less than they would have liked to over the past four weeks due to their physical health
Poor physical health and emotional problems interferes with social activities with family, friends, neighbours and groups for the majority of respondents. Around a fifth of respondents (19.6%) stated that emotional and physical problems have not interfered at all in routine activities.
Although a direct comparison cannot be made with the NI population it is worth noting that the stresses and symptoms of trauma and mental ill-health are pronounced. Within the NI population almost 1 in 5 respondents (19%) showed signs of a possible mental health problem, by scoring highly on the GHQ12. Within this sample almost half of respondents (49%) have been prescribed medication for anxiety or sleeping difficulties during the past year
A similar, but smaller, proportion (45.1%) have been prescribed medication for depression in the last year
8% of those who work do not feel physical pain compared to a third of those who are unemployed who feel such pain
Respondents who are unemployed are more than twice as likely as those who work to take anti-depressants or medication for anxiety/sleeping difficulties
Half of those who state high self-esteem are in employment compared to 26.3% who are unemployed
A quarter of those employed compared to 46.1% of those who are unemployed stated that they have considered reducing their alcohol intake
Less than a third of respondents (31.4%) had ‘not at all’ felt nervous, anxious or on edge over the past two weeks, with more than one in ten (11.8%) feeling this way nearly every day
In the two weeks prior to surveying a significant proportion of respondents (26.6%) have been bothered by not being able to stop or control worrying every day or at least half of all days over the past two weeks
Less than a third of respondents (29.4%) have not ‘worried too much about different things’, with a significant proportion (13.7%) worrying too much about different things nearly every day
The vast majority of respondents (86.3%) had experienced trouble relaxing over the previous two weeks
More than three quarters (76.5%) of respondents have often or sometimes thought about stressful life events when they did not mean to
68.6% have often or sometimes avoided letting themselves get upset when they thought about stressful life events
The majority of respondents (58.9%) stated that a personal cost of the conflict and imprisonment was linked to moderate or severe physical injury. A higher share (66.7%) felt that moderate or severe psychological harm was a personal cost of the conflict and imprisonment.