Culture, Cohesion and Conflict: The Impact of Military Veteran Identity on British Ex-military Persons’ Social Relations in Prison

Despite an increase in public, political and policy attention towards the welfare of military veterans in the UK criminal justice system, not much is known about how ex-military personnel experience imprisonment, nor how previous military service might affect veterans’ experiences in prison. This study uses qualitative interviews with 35 ex-military personnel serving custodial sentences in England to investigate how they navigate the social world of the prison. The study finds that veterans in prison hold a military veteran identity which impacts how they navigate the prison social world. It reveals how veterans draw on their previous military experience to adjust to prison life and navigate relationships with others in prison. This study highlights how pre-existing identities can shape experiences of life in custody, raising questions about how these might be utilised by policy-makers and practitioners to shape prison policy to promote the wellbeing of veterans in the criminal justice system.