IN-CJ Newsdesk 2024 – Exploring Peer Support in Criminal Justice
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As part of the IN-CJ Newsdesk 2024 series, we are pleased to present a thoughtful discussion by Dr Jiri Mertl, a researcher and lecturer at Charles University in Prague and the University of Ostrava. Mertl’s work focuses on the role of peer support in the rehabilitation and recovery of women involved in the criminal justice system.
Jiri Mertl highlights the importance of peer support within the criminal justice system, particularly for women who have experienced incarceration. Based on his research with Czech NGOs, Mertl examines the unique challenges these women face, such as the prevalence of drug abuse as a coping mechanism for trauma and the impact of domestic violence.
Mertl’s research includes interviews with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women in the Czech Republic, exploring their interactions with public institutions and NGOs. His findings underscore the need for gender-responsive and trauma-informed approaches to rehabilitation, acknowledging that many women’s pathways into criminality are linked to relational trauma and social inequalities.
Central to Mertl’s discussion is the concept of peer support. He explains that peer support, grounded in authenticity and the ethics of care, is a valuable tool for rehabilitation. By sharing lived experiences, peer support helps in mutual recovery, resilience building, and personal development. This approach benefits both the individuals receiving support and the peers providing it.
Mertl discusses several cultural and structural barriers to effective peer support in the Czech Republic, including insufficient funding, lack of legislative support, and the absence of formal peer support programs in prisons. He emphasizes the need for systemic changes to address these issues, advocating for better funding and legislative recognition to enhance the sustainability and effectiveness of peer support initiatives.
Looking ahead, Mertl calls for ongoing research and practical application of peer support in criminal justice. Addressing the current gaps and challenges could significantly improve rehabilitation outcomes for women in the criminal justice system. His discussion highlights the importance of supportive, inclusive approaches tailored to the needs of marginalized populations.
We invite you to listen to Jiri Mertl’s full discussion to explore his insights further. Contributions like Mertl’s are crucial in shaping more effective and compassionate criminal justice systems. Stay updated on future discussions and events by visiting the IN-CJ website and following us on Twitter.
Exploring Peer Support in Criminal Justice
How can peer support contribute to rehabilitation and recovery in criminal justice systems? This was the focus of an IN-CJ Newsdesk 2024 session led by Jiri Mertl (Charles University and University of Ostrava, Czech Republic), who drew on recent research and practice in the Czech Republic to highlight opportunities and challenges.
Mertl grounded the discussion in his studies with NGOs such as the Rubicon Centre, which works with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people. He emphasised that peer support in criminal justice differs from general peer support, because it is rooted in lived experience of imprisonment and shaped by authenticity, ethics of care, and the transformation of negative pasts into positive contributions. Peers provide role models, resilience, and hope for others facing similar challenges, especially women whose pathways into crime are often linked to trauma, marginalisation, and domestic violence.
The session explored how peer support can address stigma and “double stigma”—being both criminalised and traumatised—by fostering more authentic, empathetic interactions than those typically possible with professionals alone. Women in particular may benefit from peer-led approaches that recognise the intersection of trauma, caregiving responsibilities, and societal judgement. Mertl noted that peers often bridge communication gaps between clients and professionals, using accessible language and offering ongoing support beyond formal programmes through self-help groups.
At the same time, the Czech Republic faces structural obstacles. Peer support lacks stable funding, with most initiatives dependent on temporary EU or Norwegian project grants. Legislative barriers prevent people with criminal records from working formally in social services, and peer roles are not clearly defined in law. There are no systematic peer programmes in prisons, and peers often struggle with liminality—caught between old criminal identities and incomplete new social roles. Housing shortages, over-indebtedness, and social stigma further undermine their work.
Mertl contrasted this with international examples, such as prison-based peer ministries in Texas, and argued for more structural support, cultural recognition, and legal reform in the Czech Republic. He concluded that while peer support cannot solve every problem, it provides a flexible and empowering pathway for rehabilitation that deserves greater institutional backing. By recognising the authenticity and capacity of those with lived experience, peer support can play a vital role in building more humane and effective criminal justice systems.
