Penal theory, personal ethics and the life sentence in empirical perspective

Jarman, Ben (2021) Penal theory, personal ethics and the life sentence in empirical perspective. University of Hull: Criminology Rising Star webinar, Online, Hull, United Kingdom. 14 Apr 2021. (doi:10.17863/CAM.69984).

Abstract

This paper examines ethical thinking and adaptation among men serving life sentences for murder in England and Wales, drawing on in-depth interviews with 66 prisoners across three institutions. Through the lens of anthropological approaches to ethics, it analyses how age at conviction and offense circumstances shape prisoners’ moral reasoning and adaptation to imprisonment. The study finds that adaptation patterns vary significantly by life stage: younger prisoners tend to frame their imprisonment as preparation for a different future, while those convicted in middle age focus on maintaining health and simple pleasures, and older prisoners derive meaning primarily from past experiences. The paper also explores how different offence circumstances affect prisoners’ moral self-understanding, identifying a distinction between “washable” and “indelible” moral stains. Finally, it critically examines how risk assessment frameworks can undermine the morally communicative functions of punishment, particularly for prisoners who engage honestly with their offending behaviour. The findings suggest that current frameworks for understanding prison adaptation require greater nuance, especially regarding how risk management practices may impede genuine accountability and moral development. This research contributes to debates about the purpose and effectiveness of life sentences while highlighting the complex relationship between punishment, risk, and moral communication in long-term imprisonment.

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Contributors

Author: Ben Jarman

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