Your Comments

It would be excellent to have some kind of forum for family and friends with a radical approach to imprisonment. I moderate the lifer site on Prison Chat Uk. I'm in the process of writing something about the current crisis lifers are experiencing. Has anyone read any kind of critical anylisis of the OASYS assessments? (Newish assessments on "offenders"?)
Good to read of others who are angry at the lack of anything much but tea and sympathy for prisoners families. Its a sad state of affairs but great to hear I am not alone!

I'm Sandra's partner and in her defence have to agree.
I will revert back to Beth's story on the main page and her words ring out in the sense that there is no platform for families of prisoners, none whatsoever.
These organisations practice political correctness so much that they lose the meaning of what their organisation represents. Of course any controversial remark would indeed damage future funding.
Certificates were given out to family friendly prisons?
Certificates weren't given out to families? Why not? Isn't this what families of prisoners conferences are all about? Families and their welfare?
The keynote speaker spoke about poverty and homelessness. Ok, definitely a contribution to crime but families of prisoners do actually have a roof and I know women and men alike who work full time and manage to hold down careers whilst their loved ones are inside so I didn't grasp the point of his speech and how it tied in with families of prisoners issues.
The panel did consist of ex governors etc and the odd chief exec of a support group and so on but again where were the family voices? The real people? Those who are suffering? Of course they weren't there, it was in all just a glorified pompous event as all these conferences indeed are and always have been.
Out of all of these organisations, personally the most realistic one is Prison Chat UK. Members on that particular website write their true accounts on how they are treated by our Victorian age British penal system and how our loved ones are bullied, persecuted and subject to mental cruelty whilst inside.
Another issue I'd like to raise is the way the parole board are handling thousands of recall cases.
Inmates reviews are being adjourned time after time even when they have submitted their representations and further information requested by the parole board.
One man we know has been waiting six months for a simple answer yes or no.
This is nothing more than mental cruelty and inmates on his wing are suffering immense depression because these prisoners in particular aren't a danger to the public.
On Saturday 20th October 2007, prison overcrowding was at a record high.
Our people are suffering at the hands of an incompetent government that do not know their right hand from their left.
Thanks for this great website, there are some very constructive points raised and indeed they speak volumes. Thank you.

I attended a Prisoners Families conference yesterday and again there was no evidence whatsoever of solid support. Again it was a podium of booted and suited people awarding gongs out and speaking about poverty and the homeless.
It was the same emotional hum drum which of course yes it does pull at your heart strings and there's no disputing that but come on lets have it right here, how much money do these so called organisations want for just putting an arm around someone to tell them everything will be ok? What a load of tripe!
The most constructive was Storybook Dads, an organisation that actually give something constructive to build family bonds between families and children.
I saw nothing else in the form of art and education, so where is this government money going? Back in to the suits that really do not have the slightest clue what having a loved one inside is about.
An Ex Governor speaking about how prison's should improve yet probably has never even mixed with stressed out families in the visitors area to really understand how disbolical the situation really is? Well families know what needs to be done, the government knows but hell they hold these conferences year after year to make a difference? Where is it and how long do we wait?
A load of rubbish and what dissapointed me even more was the fact that not one prison was there representing the North West area and gongs were given out to London based prisons. Is Action For Prisoners Families a national organisation or not? I wanted to air my views on Styal Prison which my best friend is residing at the moment and never got the opportunity.
If Prisoners Families want to fight against more rights then they are going to have to do better than what I witnessed. The situation will be exactly the same next year and the year after. Very dissappointed.

I have recently been performing a one man play using puppets, masks and physical theatre to shine a light on my journey through prison. I was sent to prison for 16 months
One of the things that struck me during the q and a sessions was that alot of people are effected by prison and as my audiences were small people felt able to share their experiences which varied.

I think that their needs to be safe spaces for people to work through the damage and trauma of prison. Something like prisoners anonmous like aa but instead of the focus being alachol then prison with a twelve step programme.

The other thing is an open space forum where people can meet and raise issues about
prison. This would allow people the chance to directly talk and learn from each others
experiences. If anyone reading this would like to help get these things of the ground please contact me. Look forward to hearing from you soon.
in friendship charlie

Thanks for the comments Sandra and Charlie.

Both highlight real needs for support groups. We are getting comments from quite a few parents, partners, children and friends of prisoners all of whom are highly critical of both prisons and the so called family support groups. Complaints about abuse tend to get the response that the family should see it from prison staff's perspective. Maybe as a group No More Prison needs to think if we could help establish a support group for friends and families of prisons that was prepared to stand up to the prison authorities and campaign on key issues. We will be publishing some stuff on sniffer dogs next month, an issue raised by prisoners families and ignored by the prison reform charities.

Charlie, No more Prison is committed to supporting prisoner and ex-prisoner self organisation and if any such groups are being established we will do whatever we can to support them.

A very informative website.

It saddened me to read Beth's story about families of prisoners. I have yet to find anything constructive in terms of solid support for families and I'll be blunt in saying any help I've needed previously I have always ended up fighting my own corner and that is exactly how it is. People can put an arm around you and tell you everything will be ok forever in a day but to be quite frank I'm sick of hearing and reading about it because it's the same old record being played time after time. Things aren't ok, haven't been for a long time in terms of how families of prisoners are treated. The organisations I have come across and used have been bland to the point of useless.

A good honest piece of writing Beth, thanks for the read.

I too think this site is excellent. I am a fairly recent member and have a keen interest in prisoner and prison/judiciary related issues. As a tutor i have worked with prisoners and become concerned over what they told me of conditions etc. Then, I have had the experienced of being wrongly arrested, bullied and ill treated by police in the Brighton and Hove area at a time when i was vulnerable health wise leading to an atempted suicide in custody and a serious one shortly after yes, it was as bad as that and as might be imagined this has only enhanced my activity as a prisoner support activist and I write in these areas too and have had stuff published. i correspond with prisoners here and in america and actively help in any way i can e.g writing to my MP and other relevant persons on a prisoners behalf - if you know of someone in prison who would like someone to write to them as a help and suppport my email address is above - Good Wishes to all - George

my sister hanged herself in prison at 23yrs on the18 april 2004 she had head problems should of gone to a mental health hospital but because of a balls up on the social service side docters assesmenton on her that never happened she got sent to prison where she died leaving 2 lovely goregeous girls its only hit home this year any help please

Hi. I am doing a project on the Irish Prison system and whether it works or not. While I know this site is for the UK system I think all systems in essence suffer the same failings. I don't believe prison works as it should, there is definite room for improvement and I'm trying to look into possible alternatives. I would be interested in hearing people's suggestions, no matter your opinion or standing I would like to hear them all.

Hi
I noticed that there is a question from someone called Louise relating to sex workers in prison. I know this was some time ago, but thought I would respond anyway. I work for a sex worker project with women involved in prostitution and would be happy to talk to you about my experiences of the criminalisation of sex work and sex workers. Lots of us in the sex worker movement believe that the criminalisation and punishment of this marginalised group serves to make them more invisible and ultimately compromises their safety and affects levels of violence against them. I have done some work recently with prisons, so please get in touch if you want any more info.

Cheers

Sian

my 14yr old son died at hassockfield s.t.c. on 09/08/04.earlier in the day adam had what they call been restrained by the screws,left battered bruised and bleeding. no one faced charges.he was a very small person for his age,cant say much still had no inquest,when the inquest has been heard i am going to publish everything and let the public read the harrowing disgusting things of what happend to adam,i want the story published,then you the public decide

I just got out last year (july05) and Im still trying to cope with the panick attacks Im scared of evrything and evryone I have zero confidence and I can asure you I wasnt like this before I was sent to prison I was very outgoing and bubbly....Prison has broke my spirits in many ways and Im still thinking about evrything that I went through (humilliations, fear,intimidation......) Im a 29 year old female do you think is right that a punishment left me medically depressed?

I do not understand why most people believe that prison works. Clearly the reconviction rate is huge, so it doesn't reform. Furthermore, the idea that when someone is in prison they can't commit crime is laughable. I was inside for many of my teenage years and witnessed more bullying, violence, death threats and intimidation than I imagined existed in this country. You either let it tear you apart or you take part in it. I am more ashamed of acts i undertook in prison than any offences I ever committed in society. Prisoners are stripped of their responsibilities which leads them to often act irresponsibly. Its a highly stressed environment where people are forced to make a front 24 hours a day. This is soon transferred to one's character, and confrontation becomes an intrinsic reaction. I learned to cope by saying to myself, 'it doesn't matter how I feel today, but how I feel next week'. And I'd say the same the next week. Nearly four years out of prison and I'm still trying to feel emotions again.

The idea to abolish prisons sounds good, and for some prisoners there is absolutly no need for incarcaration. Is it really fair to lock someone up because there child plays truant?
If prisons were to be abolished, what would happen to violent sex or child offenders...there behaviour is intolerable and in may opinion, and many others, they deserve all of the violence and abuse that is dished out to them.
unfortunatly, many offenders are victims to miscarriages of justice and for these i feel truly sorry.
Prisons are flawed but they are there for a reason...to protect the public from dangerous people!

I am researching an essay into prison and its alternatives and have a number of questions. What do you think are the aims of the CJS and how is the current system failing to achieve those aims? Are those failures mainly due to prison? Would the system fair better with the increased use of non-custodial sentences? What do you think are the most effective non-custodial sanctions? Any comments would be welcome! I would be happy to submit my essay to the site once it is completed. Many thanks.

Pete, the group has not yet decided how we are going to follow up the Styal demo. If you can let me have an e-mail address I will add you to our mailing list so you can get advanced info re all our plans

I have just heard about yesterday's picket from a friend. I would have been with you if I had had advanced warning Is there any plans for any further pickets?

I am appalled at the treatment young offenders receive whilst on remand. It seems the "Normalization Principle" does not exist in YOI's. Young Offenders on remand have not been convicted, therefore should not be treated as "guilty" I would welcome any thought you have on this, either negative or positive.

As the mother of the youngest of six women to die in the 'care' of HMP and YOI Styal, in the 12 months ending August 2003, I fully support [and will be attending] the forthcoming demonstration to be held outside Styal on 08.04.06. Deborah Coles, Co-Director of INQUEST, has described the six deaths as "a clear example of corporate manslaughter" (BBC online news, 27.10.04, "Dying for change", by Jon Silverman, Legal affairs analyst; http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3955735.stm), yet no-one has ever been held to account.

The facts are indisputable: 9 out of 10 women prisoners have been convicted of non-violent offences, and should instead be given well supervised community sentences (which are usually more effective, and cost less). Two thirds of women prisoners are mothers, and their unnecessary incarceration adversely affects their innocent children.
When Labour took office in 1997, 2,629 women were imprisoned; current figure (10.03.06) is 4,450 (England & Wales), yet there has been no equivalent increase in the number of women committing offences, or of women committing more serious crimes. Questions need to be asked about why this is happening.

Where there is injustice, there will be protest. The demonstration on 08.04.06 will rightly focus on the absurdity of plans to make Styal the largest women's jail in Europe. In view of Styal's troubled history, and the relatively small number of women convicted of violent offences, the logical approach is, therefore, to call for its closure.

The jury at my daughter's inquest, January 2005, did not return a "suicide" verdict but said, in a detailed narrative, that a "failure in the duty of care" had contributed to her death, and there had been "avoidable delays" in calling the ambulance. The cause of death was prescription anti-depressant drug poisoning. Three years after my daughter's death, there is still no formal acceptance by the Home Office that they have a responsibility for Sarah's death.

[Mother of Sarah Elizabeth Campbell, 18, who died in the 'care' of HMP & YOI Styal, 18.01.03]

Statistical information provides an interesting insight into the rehabilitation rate of offenders that have served at Her Majesty's. An approximate average (taken over several years from Home Office stats) for adult offenders is around 45-50% chance of reoffending, for women it is around 65% and for youth offenders it is 75-80%. If we are to take it that the Prison System is there as a service for public protection we are fooling ourselves. If any other public service such as: hospitals, schools etc had the same degree of a poor function within societty it would soon be desposed of. However, as many prisons comprise of well 'criminals' their rights appear to be wavered. Yet, 'non-criminals' or the 'free' people are still no less likely to be subjected to crime or fear it any less. In fairness to 'all' custodial sentenses do need to be re-addressed.
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/

I am researching what support, if any, is availbel to sex workers whislt they are in prison and how they access that suport whilst inside. I would like to hear from organisations, staff and working women.

why is britain so heavily reliant on prison as a form of punishment for crimes? My brother and many of his friends are institutionalised from being in and out of prison from the age of fifteen. The last time my brother was released he decided he wanted to do something with his life, but being totally free is hard for him now. He decided that he would be at his best in an environment where he would be disciplined and decided that the army would suit him. But of course, he was refused a place in the army because of his past, he gave up hope and turned back to crime and drugs and is now in prison for armed robbery. It is supposed to be the twenty first century, but our government is so old fashioned and set in their ways, they are doing more harm than good.what is the army for anyway? fighting- duh!

My son has been in and out of prison from youth to adult he even did a week in a supermax prison this is because of driving with no licence etc
prison has done nothing for him he is 24 years on the 4th feb and guess what he is locked up yet again for driving being in prison has made him a harder person he is not my caring boy no more he is out for his self. Which hurts very much.
Why has he turned the way he has? Its because in prison you have to think of number one yourself.
thankyou for a great site
love and respect shaz

I have both worked in prisons and been the partner of a prisoner (for a long time, longer than I worked inside.) I started to really question what was being done in jails when i realised that they only function through the threat of violence. I was appalled at the level of hatred a lot of officers had for prisoners and the poisoning affect of that kind of atmoshere and treatment both on prisoners and staff.
Since I have been the partner of a prisoner I have experienced that hatred being directed at me and witnessed acts of cruelty towards others that I could scarcily believe. I don't believe that many who work in prisons really are concerned with any form of rehabilitation. The treatment of families is one aspect of that that particularly horrifies me. Research has shown that a stable family is the biggest factor in deterring reoffending and yet prisoners families are treated with utter contempt by the prison service. Its shameful. This treatment creates family tension and breakdown. The stresses that families endure are mostly ignored and we live on the margins of society whilst supporting some of the most vulnerable people. If anyone was truly interested in rehabilitation then our needs would be prioritsed rather than ignored.
There must be so many better alternatives than this hell that people are put through, sometimes for many years. The children of prisoners are particularly at risk of the affects of trauma and deprivation. Its a total scandal what goes on in visits.Prisoners and their families are denied any privacy or dignity. People need help with their drug use. Increasing security measures that harm families are counter productive because relationships are damaged and broken at a time when people need support to make changes in their lives.
I find that most people have no idea how bad things are in our jails and have little or no awareness of the struggles of prisoners families.I have often felt as though I live in a different country to most of those around me. The pain of being an "innocent" person, denied some of the most basic human rights is an experience I would not wish on anybody. I will spend the rest of my life doing what ever I can to change it, in whatever small way.

Reading the last comment posted,by Paul, it reminds me of the kind of attitude lots of prisoners have, that prison and being caught is all part of the 'game' which is played out between themselves and the police.I have been inside several times and one of the things that I will never understand is why most prisoners call the screws 'boss' when they ask them for somthing.It is things like this that makes the prisoner automatically accept the role of the subordinate whithout the screw having to show who 'they' think is 'boss'. When ever I've tried to talk about how we should get rid of prisons to other inmates I am normally laughed at and they fail to see how things could change. The idea that crime and prison are a part of society, and that you must have people who commit the crimes inorder to fill those prisons is the twisted logic a lot of inmates seem to have. Untill it can be pointed out that crime only exists because of an unequal and unjust social climate then they can't get past that type of thinking.

I do not understand why most people believe that prison works. Clearly the reconviction rate is huge, so it doesn't reform. Furthermore, the idea that when someone is in prison they can't commit crime is laughable. I was inside for many of my teenage years and witnessed more bullying, violence, death threats and intimidation than I imagined existed in this country. You either let it tear you apart or you take part in it. I am more ashamed of acts i undertook in prison than any offences I ever committed in society. Prisoners are stripped of their responsibilities which leads them to often act irresponsibly. Its a highly stressed environment where people are forced to make a front 24 hours a day. This is soon transferred to one's character, and confrontation becomes an intrinsic reaction. I learned to cope by saying to myself, 'it doesn't matter how I feel today, but how I feel next week'. And I'd say the same the next week. Nearly four years out of prison and I'm still trying to feel emotions again.
It is disconcerting, and the worst thing is that I'm not afraid of going back to prison, I quite enjoyed being a failure where I had no option of success. Whenever I now think about committing a crime I ask myself, 'what are the chances of getting caught', nuts to the consequences, I'll cope.

After having served a 6 month sentence for doing absolutely nothing whatsoever I would love to see prisons taken down. I was sentenced to 6 months with absolutely no evidence against me merely because the policy when a new law comes out is to make an example of the first offenders. Despite the fact that a probation officers report showed a conviction that I had been wrongfully convicted and strongly advised community service I was given the maximum sentence of 6 months. I don't really want to talk about what I had to go through to survive that sentence but let's just say that I certainly didn't feel like a human being with human rights. Now I am 'free' I have to live with the stigma of having a criminal record which basically means I can forget about ever having a decent job unless I do it self employed.

I agree that there needs to be a movement towards community penalties and alternatives to conventional prisons, and as such I am glad that I came across this site. However, current community penalties are not performing as well as they might due to the under-resourcing of the Probation Service - an organisation that does not oppose prison but does seek to offer an alternative and rehabilitate people who have broken the law. The work that the Probation Service does is being further jeopardised by the current Government plans to privatise the Probation Service by allowing private companies to bid to do Probation work (found in the Home Office document 'Re-structuring Probation to Reduce Re-offending'). This will lead to a disjointed and biased service, where profit comes before public protection and rehabilitation. I am sure those people with experience of privately run prisons will realise that the implications of this are much higher staff turnover and a lack of trained and experienced staff. The Government plans will lead to poorer rehabilitative services, an increased crime rate and increased numbers of people being sent to prison. Please see the Home Office web-site and napo.org.uk (Probation union web-site) for more details. Please let me know if you would like to receive more information or become involved in our campaign to stop/alter the Government's plans. I can be contacted at annaperryno2@boltblue.com and I look forward to hearing from as many people as possible, especially those working in or influential in the criminal justice arena and those in the Thames Valley area.
Thanks very much

Really useful website. I am writing an essay on the early development of the prison. Would this be useful for this site? I hope to get to the Seminar later this month.

I understand the concern you have about the proposal to close all prisons. However no one is proposing that all prisons should be closed overnight. What we are advocating is a staged policy of reducing the use of prison. Let us focus on firstly removing children from prison, then lets remove those Adults who even most prison officers believe should not be inside (e.g the mentally ill). When we achieved this we can look at those prisoners who no one claims are violent or pose any real risk. By this stage we have already reduced the prison population by approx two thirds.


The debate about how we deal with the remaining prisons is more complex and will require addressing concerns over public safety and managing risk. But its a debate that can wait until we have freed tens of thousands of children, women and men who no one claims pose any risk (or at least they didn't on entering prison).

I'm currently a Jail Officer at the Grant County Jail in Marion Indiana, USA. I think that after reading a little about this organization, it's blatently obvious that to say that there should be no prisons is ABSOLUTE NONSENSE! What is proposed that you do with the more serious offenders, such as Murderers, Drug Kingpins, Rapist, and on and on. Do you propose an outpatient treatment center for murderers? Have them check in from time to time? Is that it? However, I believe that jail is not the right approach for every case. Certainly noone can argue that the criminal justice system is perfect, anywhere. However I'd like to see somebody that is involved with this site come to my jail and work my nights with me and see if you have the same attitude toward things after having seen the worst of these individuals.

As an employee of Her Majesty's Prison Service I have obvious bias in my views towards the efficacy of prisons. I understand this site's quest for alternatives to prison, and would welcome constructive and creative ideas.However, I can not understand how anyone can advocate the total closure of all prisons in the UK. In my time in the Service I have come across a number of prisoners who, quite frankly, have no right to a place in a fair, tolerant and law-abiding society.Murderers, rapists, paedophiles, and robbers who have commited some of the most heinous crimes imaginable. Are you really saying these people should not lose their liberty? Yes of course there are people in prison who should not be there. And I have no doubt there are alternatives open to magistrates and judges at the time of sentencing. If this site can generate more viable and realistic alternatives I for one would very much welcome them. But to be honest I am yet to find anything.

Hi Con, good to hear your interested in the seminar. We only have 3 hours and will need to focus on the topics advertised and the theme Prison Abolition. Whilst we share your concerns about the other issues these are not on our limited agenda.

In solidarity
John

As a ex prisoner I am interested in the conference which is been held on the 28/01/06 in London . topics for discussion I would like to see been discussed.isthe illegal detention of people who are asylum seekers awaiting their status. the politicalsituation of people on hunger strike in Turkish prisons.

I accept the points being made and children in the penal system is not a good sign for the future However a viable solution has not been mentioned on this site nor been found by the government. When a solution to prison can be found, that is a real solution but until that is found we need to tackle the causes of crime and not just bicker about what is done afterwards.

Great Site, keep up the good work

I remembering using a book entitled The Oxford History of the Prison, edited by Morris & Rothman, when I was an undergraduate and I have recently read the whole of this book. If you ever needed a book that demostrates the consistent historical failure of both punishment and the use of prison as a deterrent to combatting crime then this is the one.

It was sad to see a brilliant alternative to prison forced into voluntary liquidation last month. The charity C-FAR based in Devon helped with the lives of many young offenders offering a structured support package with further resttlement help into the community after completing the course. The management comittee of C-FAR intend to continue their excellent work subject to funding. Check out their old website on www.c-far.org.uk. Hopefully they can continue and are looking for your support.

I too work in a large prison and can see some good things that are done within the prison, however when inmates leave the prison gates everything is in place to help them to return. I see addicts who committed crimes to fund their habits retrun to prison every other week saying that they don't want to go to hostels because they are full of other addicts that they are trying to escape. I would say that around 90% of the prison population is in someway in prison because of drugs, whether it be dealing, possession. importing, funding a habit, prostitution, living off immoral earnings, or for some they say prison as a break from there hectic lifestyles.

I work at HMP Pentonville. There is a lot of good work done there with offenders despite the limitations of the system and attitudes are a lot more humane than prison staff are usually given credit for. That said, prison really does not work and it is essential to not only find alternatives but to sell the alternatives to the public over the heads of politicians who are using offending as part of an increasingly right-wing scare-offensive on public sensibilities.

I found your website extremely interesting and refreshing compared to other ones i found.

great website, its good to see someone think about alternatives we lock far to many people up.

Thanks Donna for your question. It has spurred me on to start writing the alternatives to prison page. This can be accessed by clicking here Hopefully I will finish writing this in the next few weeks.

Hi Josh. A couple of years ago when I got really angry about Prisons and tried to join RAP I found it had ceased to function some time in the 1980's. This website is very much a project to get RAP (or something similiar) going again. I will write to you with more details. Best Wishes John

What are the alternatives to prison?

whatever happened to RAP (radical alternative to prison)?

Great site. Hope you keep working on it. I found it very informative. I would like to see more on alternatives.

Good start to a website which has potential to develop into a useful resource. Am writing a disertation on abolitionism and would welcome any papers/documents anyone has. thanks.

Many congratulations on doing this - and grateful thanks. I am interested in joining. Do you have a list of members? Pat

I would be willing to write the page on women's imprisonment.