PRISM with Incarcerated Young People: Optical Illusion or Reflection of Reality?

The PRISM process was used to assess the presence of situational risk factors for institutional violence in a juvenile custodial setting in the UK. As part of the assessment, interviews were carried out with staff and young people (aged 15 to 17) and records of violence on the unit over the previous two years were analyzed. Results revealed the presence of a number of situational risk factors for violence with differing levels of severity. A number of interventions were devised for the management of violence on the unit. The study provides support for the utility of PRISM within juvenile custodial settings.