Social cohesion, safety, and support in Indian correctional facilities: An EssenCES-based analysis

Background: Understanding prison climate is critical for advancing rehabilitation and safeguarding inmate well-being. While the Essen Climate Evaluation Schema (EssenCES) has been widely used internationally to assess institutional climate across three dimensions—social cohesion, perceived safety, and staff support—its psychometric validation in Indian correctional settings remains unexplored.Materials and Methods: This study assessed the factor structure, reliability, and demographic correlates of the EssenCES in a sample of 198 inmates (140 males, 58 females) at Gautam Budh Nagar District Jail, India. Participants completed the 15-item EssenCES questionnaire. Principal component analysis (PCA), Cronbach’s alpha, regression analysis, and group comparisons (t-tests, ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U tests) were used to examine factor validity, internal consistency, and the influence of gender, education, and incarceration length on climate perceptions. Qualitative responses were thematically analyzed to contextualise findings.Results: PCA supported a three-factor solution (social cohesion, safety, and support) explaining 37.01% of the variance (KMO = 0.792; Bartlett’s χ² = 1247.53, p < .001), with strong reliability (α = 0.78–0.88). Male inmates reported significantly higher scores in all three dimensions than females (p < .001, Cohen’s d > 0.80). Regression analysis indicated that longer incarceration negatively predicted prison climate perceptions (β = –0.13, p < .001). Illiterate inmates perceived significantly greater safety (p < .001, η² = 0.674). Qualitative themes underscored areas for potential institutional strengthening and program development.Conclusion: The EssenCES demonstrates good psychometric properties in the Indian prison context. Findings highlight institutional and demographic factors—particularly gender and incarceration length—that shape inmates' climate perceptions. The results underscore the need for culturally adapted assessment tools, gender-responsive correctional policies, and routine climate monitoring to support prison reform in India.