Violence in Pursuit of Health: Living with HIV in the American Prison System

203 Pages·2021·1.72 MB·English

by  Landon Kuester

PALGRAVE STUDIES IN
PRISONS AND PENOLOGY
Violence in Pursuit
of Health
Living with HIV in the American
Prison System
Landon Kuester
Palgrave Studies in Prisons and Penology
Series Editors
Ben Crewe
Institute of Criminology
University of Cambridge
Cambridge, UK
Yvonne Jewkes
Social & Policy Sciences
University of Bath
Bath, UK
Thomas Ugelvik
Faculty of Law
University of Oslo
Oslo, Norway
This is a unique and innovative series, the first of its kind dedi-
cated entirely to prison scholarship. At a historical point in which
the prison population has reached an all-time high, the series seeks to
analyse the form, nature and consequences of incarceration and related
forms of punishment. Palgrave Studies in Prisons and Penology provides
an important forum for burgeoning prison research across the world.
Series Advisory Board: Anna Eriksson (Monash University), Andrew
M. Jefferson (DIGNITY - Danish Institute Against Torture), Shadd
Maruna(RutgersUniversity),JonathonSimon(BerkeleyLaw,University
of California) and MichaelWelch (Rutgers University).
More information about this series at
http://www.palgrave.com/gp/series/14596
Landon Kuester
Violence in Pursuit
of Health
Living with HIV in the American
Prison System
Landon Kuester
King’s College London
London, UK
Palgrave Studies in Prisons and Penology
ISBN 978-3-030-61349-5 ISBN 978-3-030-61350-1 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61350-1
©The Editor(s) (if applicable) andThe Author(s) 2021
This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher,
whetherthewholeorpartofthematerialisconcerned,specificallytherightsoftranslation,reprinting,
reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical
way,andtransmissionorinformationstorageandretrieval,electronicadaptation,computersoftware,
or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed.
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this
publicationdoesnot imply,evenintheabsenceof aspecific statement,thatsuch namesareexempt
from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.
Thepublisher,theauthorsandtheeditorsaresafetoassumethattheadviceandinformationinthis
book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the
authors or the editors give a warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the material contained
herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made.The publisher remains neutral with
regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Cover design by © alamy KGE9X5
ThisPalgraveMacmillanimprintispublishedbytheregisteredcompanySpringerNatureSwitzerland
AG
The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland
Acknowledgments
This book offers findings from an ethnographic study in a U.S. state
prison system. The research involved spending extended time in several
prison facilities and community organisations to understand the experi-
encesofpeoplelivingwithHIVastheymovethroughprisonandreturn
to life in the community.
Writing this book would not be possible without the generosity and
thoughtfulness of all the research participants involved in the study.
Therefore,Iwouldliketothanktheinmates,prisonstaffandadministra-
tors,ex-inmatesandtheirfamilies,universityfaculty,hospitalstaff,social
workers,outreachworkers,probationandparoleboard,andleadershipat
the Department of Health who shared their stories with me.
Research for this book was undertaken as part of my doctoral studies
at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University
of London. A special thank you is due to Professor Tim Rhodes
for his supervision and to advisory committee members Dr. Nicki
Thorogood, Professor Ernest Drucker, and Dr. Magdalena Harris.
Professor Adam Fletcher guided initial stages of research. The doctoral
v
vi Acknowledgments
thesis was examined by Professor Fiona Measham and Dr. Michael
Shiner, who provided thoughtful feedback to strengthen this work.
The research would not have been possible without the extraor-
dinary mentorship from Professor Josiah Rich and Professor Tim
Flannigan.IwouldalsoliketothankProfessorLinaFruzzetti,Dr.Patricia
Symonds, and Professor Judith Green.Their support and kindness were
immeasurable throughout this study.
I am grateful for the encouragement and support of Dr. Catherine
McGowan and Dr. Shirley Huchcroft, interview transcription by
Ms. Sally Read, and the generous review and feedback offered by Ms.
Sheena Stapleton, Ms. Brieann Buckley, and Ms. Ana Sanandres.
The research underpinning this book was conducted a few years
ago now, and several other people have been integral to its produc-
tion. Professor Kamaldeep Bhui, Professor Simon Dein, and Dr. Mark
Freestone encouraged the book submission and guided me through the
development of its proposal. I am also grateful to Dr. Polly Radcliffe for
her support during the final stages of the write-up.
Some of the analysis in the book reworks previously published mate-
rial,andthereforeIamgratefultothepublishersfortheirpermissionsto
re-produce it here.
Chapter 4 & Discussion: Kuester, L. B., & Freestone, M. C. (2020).
Timeawayistimeout:narrativesofintentionalreimprisonmentamongst
inmates living with HIV in a US setting. Critical Public Health, 1–12.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09581596.2020.1737645.
I dedicate this book to Angel and Big Jay, two participants who died
during the course of this study. It was an honour and privilege to have
spent time with them both. I will forever hold their stories in my heart
and mind, and I hope this book does justice to their experiences.
Contents
1 Introduction:Violence in Pursuit of Health 1
1.1 Who Is Behind Bars? 3
1.2 Prison Healthcare 5
1.3 HIV Policy and Care 6
1.4 Community Re-Entry and HIV Support 8
1.5 DoesViolence Lead to Health? 11
References 13
2 A Study on PrisonViolence and HIV 21
2.1 American Prison Ethnography 21
2.2 Violence 22
2.3 Violence in Prison 23
2.4 Research Methods 25
2.5 Immersion intoViolence 28
References 30
3 WhyWould An Inmate Swallow Razor Blades? 35
3.1 Accessing Healthcare 38
vii
viii Contents
3.2 Self-degradation 40
3.3 Degradation by Others 43
3.4 Structural Degradation 46
3.5 No One Is Exempt 49
3.6 “Prison Games” in Healthcare 51
References 58
4 Benefits of Degradation 59
4.1 How Do Staff and InmatesView Prison Games? 60
4.2 How Do Inmates Benefit for Prison Games? 65
4.3 Procuring Medication 66
4.4 Procuring Other Objects 71
4.5 Returns to the Prison Marketplace 76
5 The StaffWho Play Prison Games 87
5.1 Inmates and Staff Are Alike 89
5.2 How Does the Prison Structure Affect Staff? 98
5.3 Creating Inmates as “Other” 108
References 115
6 From Care to Corrections 117
6.1 The System ChangesYou 117
6.2 Not Mattering 121
References 134
Discussion: Degradation and Prison Games 135
Appendix A: Study Design 155
Appendix B: Research Field 169
Appendix C: Participant Attributes 175
Contents ix
Appendix D: Sampling and Recruitment 179
Appendix E: Empirical Data and Analysis 181
Appendix F:Welfare and Medical Benefits 185
Author Index 191
Index 195