Victimisation in detention: prevalence, causes and consequences

In recent years victimisation in detention has received increasing attention. Especially within the US a lot of research regarding this topic can be found. Researchers focus, for example, on physical and sexual violence in prison, the relationship between gang membership and victimisation, victimisation of property crimes and vicarious victimisation. Studies pay attention to different experiences of victimisation and individual and contextual, prison related, factors that influence victimisation. However, we should be careful generalising the US findings to the European context. Therefore, this project will collect and analyse findings on victimisation in Flemish prisons. Research of victimisation in detention in Belgium (and Europe) is, after all, limited compared to the US. The goal is to study different experiences of victimisation in detention: (1) direct victimisation, (2) vicarious victimisation and (3) fear of victimisation. We will focus on the prevalence rates, the individual and contextual risk factors and the consequences of victimisation in detention.