Why Should We Study Prisoner Victimisation?

In this chapter, attention is drawn to the unsafe nature of the prison setting, a topic long overlooked due to the idea of “ideal victims” in society. A trend is uncovered, shifting from a lack of focus on the incarcerated individual as a victim to a growth in research, primarily in the United States. Simultaneously, the need for research from other countries and regions—such as Europe—becomes evident through this discussion. This chapter discusses why we should study prisoner victimisation, guiding the reader towards the book’s focal point on prisoner-on-prisoner victimisation in European research. It becomes clear that victimisation is not limited solely to the inter-prisoner variant but takes on various forms, including victimisation by prison staff. However, it is argued that the different forms of victimisation behind bars should be examined separately, based on considerations regarding the distinction between victimisation concepts. This introductory chapter briefly touches upon research on victimisation of prisoners by staff, after which the various chapters in this volume are introduced.