Paramilitary Imprisonment in Northern Ireland

This book offers an analysis of paramilitary imprisonment in Northern Ireland, in particular the thirty year struggle concerning the prisoners' assertion of their political status. Based upon interviews with former prisoners and staff, this book locates that experience within the broader literature on imprisonment. Four forms of prisoner resistance are examined including dirty protest and hunger strike; violence, destruction, and intimidation; escape; and resorts to the law. In addition three models of prison management are developed including reactive containment, criminalization, and managerialism. Finally the book considers the release of paramilitary prisoners and its relevance to the conflict resolution process in Northern Ireland.