A coding system to interpret prisoners’ perceptions and attributions,associated with psychological distress and the type of crime

Abstract

This study proposes a reliable coding system to interpret the perceptions and attributions of the prison population and relate them to psychological distress and type of crime. A total of 281 men from the Granada Penitentiary Center participated and completed the Writing Processes Evaluation Battery free narrative test and the Symptom Checklist. The results show that personal perceptions and psychological distress vary according to the type of crime, which helps social workers and prison psychologists design tailored interventions that address prisoners’ emotional needs, promote rehabilitation, and reduce recidivism.