PRISON MANAGEMENT poorly defined and there is limited empirical evidence to show that interventions with prisoners actually drive positive attitudinal change with any consistency. The concept of disengagement refers directly to behavioural change, and it is most often defined in terms of individuals denouncing their commitment to violence. Disengagement-related interventions may include counselling, faith-based dialogue, education, vocational training, sport and exercise, and increased contact with family. To be effective, interventions need to be sensitive to the different experiences of women and girls. Again, evidence of the impact of interventions to encourage disengagement from violence is limited. Another ongoing dilemma is whether to keep prisoners who have been assessed as having violent extremist views separate from the ordinary prison population – or whether to disperse them among other prisoners. Conclusive evidence of the benefits of either approach is not available, but in general there is a reluctance to 36 | accept the risk of integrating prisoners convicted of terrorist offences, as well as pressure from the public for a visible response of segregation. Research conducted in the Philippines over a 10-year period compared the situation of prisoners convicted of terrorist offences who had been dispersed in the general population with those who were isolated.388 It found that isolation can lead to a negative entrenchment of attitudes, while dispersal can lead to a positive change in attitudes over time.389 The rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners who hold violent extremist views demands a multi-agency approach in order to be truly effective, involving prison staff but also including probation, social welfare, housing and education authorities. This kind of inter-agency working creates challenges in terms of sharing confidential information and competition over resources and funding, but it is essential for the reintegration of this group of prisoners.390 A review of prisons in New South Wales, Australia, found little evidence of radicalisation to violence amongst prisoners but made recommendations for action, including the establishment of a dedicated unit to lead and advise on managing violent extremists, which will assist multi-agency working. It also recommended increasing intelligence capacity and capability, and enhancing services to Muslim prisoners to reduce vulnerability to radicalisation.391 RECOMMENDATION 19 Strategies to prevent and manage violent extremism in prisons should be proportionate and founded upon international standards and the implementation of the Nelson Mandela Rules. Prison staff should be trained to respond appropriately and rehabilitation programmes should adopt a multi-agency approach. Penal Reform International and Thailand Institute of Justice | Global Prison Trends 2019