What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine how sports programmes in correctional settings can revitalize the ethical commitments of social work, including dignity, relational care, and moral responsibility, under carceral conditions.

August 14, 2026Ethics and Social Welfare

Re-Centring Ethical Social Work Through Pockets of Humanisation in Prison Sports Programmes

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Authors

MLMarie-Lou LibbrechtUniversity College Ghent

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Implication

Qualitative study reveals that prison sports programmes foster dignity and agency among incarcerated individuals, highlighting pathways to re-centre ethical social work.

Key Points

To examine how sports programmes in correctional settings can revitalize the ethical commitments of social work, including dignity, relational care, and moral responsibility, under carceral conditions.
Conducted four years of participatory fieldwork within Flemish correctional facilities.
Carried out 141 semi-structured interviews with currently and formerly incarcerated individuals, coaches, prison staff, and policy-level stakeholders.
Applied the Capability Approach as a sensitising analytical framework to evaluate ethical practice in coercive settings.
Voluntary participation, coach relational stance, dialogue, and outside connection allowed sports activities to operate as pockets of humanisation.
Programmes enabled incarcerated individuals to reclaim dignity, agency, and social recognition despite pervasive surveillance and institutional control.
Findings promote a broader framework for prisoner reintegration that extends beyond mere behavioural compliance and standard recidivism metrics.

Cite This Study

Marie-Lou Libbrecht (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a7ec707b70b84ec8b9132bf https://doi.org/10.1080/17496535.2026.2699748

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Implication

Qualitative study reveals that prison sports programmes foster dignity and agency among incarcerated individuals, highlighting pathways to re-centre ethical social work.

Re-Centring Ethical Social Work Through Pockets of Humanisation in Prison Sports Programmes

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Re-Centring Ethical Social Work Through Pockets of Humanisation in Prison Sports Programmes

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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