When legitimacy is denied: Offender perceptions of the prison recall system

Abstract

Academic attention given to the recent and dramatic rise in the number of released prisoners recalled to prison has rarely considered offenders’ perspectives, despite the impact that recall can have on their lives. Interviews with 20 recalled sex offenders found offender views of the system focused almost exclusively on the procedural fairness of the process. In line with theories of legitimacy, these experiences appeared to have a strong impact on offenders’ attitudes, well-being, and intentions for future behaviour. There is a need to qualify these accounts in the context of offender denial. This article argues that greater consideration of the procedural justice of the administration of recalls is needed; the impact of the current system as described by offenders throws considerable doubt on its efficacy as a tool for public protection.