Peer Support During the Pandemic: Views from the Inside

Gillian McNaull; Shadd Maruna; Mark Johnson; Hutt Daniel

Peer Support During the Pandemic: Views from the Inside

Gillian McNaull
, Shadd Maruna
, Mark Johnson
, Hutt Daniel

University of Liverpool

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Abstract

Utilizing a participatory action research (PAR) methodology involving people in prison and with lived experience of imprisonment at every stage of the research, this study explored how people in prison coped with the severe restrictions on social interaction during the Covid pandemic. Survey and focus group responses suggest that organic forms of peer support emerged in the absence of formal rehabilitation and educational supports. Respondents described this mutual aid and fellowship as essential to their mental survival during the extreme isolation of this period of lockdown. Implications of these findings and the participatory methodology are discussed.

Book available for pre-order on 20 November 2025; item will ship after 11 December 2025

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Handbook of Lived Experience in the Justice System
Publisher	Routledge
Chapter	17
Volume	10
Edition	1
ISBN (Print)	9781041016052
Publication status	Published (in print/issue) - 11 Dec 2025

Publication series

Name	The ASC Division on Corrections & Sentencing Handbook Series
Publisher	Routledge
Number	1
Volume	10

Funding

Funding Notice: This study was supported by funding from the Economic and Social Research Council, Grant Number: ES/V01708X/1

Funders	Funder number
ESRC	ES/V01708X/1

Cite this

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AU - Johnson, Mark

AU - Daniel, Hutt

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N2 - Utilizing a participatory action research (PAR) methodology involving people in prison and with lived experience of imprisonment at every stage of the research, this study explored how people in prison coped with the severe restrictions on social interaction during the Covid pandemic. Survey and focus group responses suggest that organic forms of peer support emerged in the absence of formal rehabilitation and educational supports. Respondents described this mutual aid and fellowship as essential to their mental survival during the extreme isolation of this period of lockdown. Implications of these findings and the participatory methodology are discussed. Book available for pre-order on 20 November 2025; item will ship after 11 December 2025

AB - Utilizing a participatory action research (PAR) methodology involving people in prison and with lived experience of imprisonment at every stage of the research, this study explored how people in prison coped with the severe restrictions on social interaction during the Covid pandemic. Survey and focus group responses suggest that organic forms of peer support emerged in the absence of formal rehabilitation and educational supports. Respondents described this mutual aid and fellowship as essential to their mental survival during the extreme isolation of this period of lockdown. Implications of these findings and the participatory methodology are discussed. Book available for pre-order on 20 November 2025; item will ship after 11 December 2025

UR - https://www.routledge.com/Handbook-on-Lived-Experience-in-the-Justice-System/Dum-Fader-LeBel-Wright/p/book/9781041016052

M3 - Chapter

SN - 9781041016052

VL - 10

T3 - The ASC Division on Corrections & Sentencing Handbook Series

BT - Handbook of Lived Experience in the Justice System

PB - Routledge

ER -

Peer Support During the Pandemic: Views from the Inside

Abstract

Publication series

Funding

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Cite this