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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
Time: 10:39 pm
Time: 10:39 pm
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4 results foundAuthor: Frowein, Philippa Title: Breaking Out of the Cycle: Sports, Recreation, Education and Culture Centre at the Leeuwkop Juvenile Prison Summary: Economic circumstances in the wake of historical political turbulence have lead to criminal behaviour, and the cyclical nature of criminal patterns. Growing crime rates are a feature of countries around the world, and various governments have attempted to deal with offenders by adopting 'tough on crime' strategies. Nevertheless, crime rates are increasing, and new research has shown that rehabilitation is becoming more relevant than punishment in the fight against recidivism. In the White Paper on Corrections, published in 2005, the Department of Correctional Services identified the actual prison environment as a route cause of crime, calling the prison a "university of crime." Gang violence, rape and intimidation cause prisoners to commit crimes in an attempt to survive. On their release, they have the potential to be damaged individuals who pose a greater threat to society than before their incarceration. The White Paper suggests that rehabilitation of prisoners is the only way to deal with criminal reoffending and The Department of Correctional Services has fully committed to the theory of rehabilitation in its legislation. Unfortunately most of the actual prison buildings in South Africa were designed purely for incarceration and punishment of offenders, and little thought has been given to spaces for rehabilitation. This thesis deals with the retrofit of rehabilitation programme in existing problematic prison infrastructure in an attempt to deal with the high levels of recidivism in South Africa. South African prisoners have the right to sports, recreation, education and culture [SREC] activities, but currently participation is documented at only four percent. The juvenile prisoners at the Leeuwkop Prison Farm form part of the majority of young offenders without good SREC facilities, and it is the aim of this thesis to investigate the culture of Leeuwkop Prison and determine what is needed for both prisoners and prison staff in terms of offering rehabilitation and SREC facilities. This thesis will also focus upon the way in which a new SREC building can be used to integrate prisoners and the public in an attempt to address the stigmas associated with offenders in South Africa. Details: Johannesburg, South Africa: University of the Witwatersrand, 2013. 193p. Source: Internet Resource: Master's Essay: Accessed July 28, 2014 at: http://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/handle/10539/13088 Year: 2013 Country: South Africa URL: http://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/handle/10539/13088 Shelf Number: 132801 Keywords: Juvenile InmatesJuvenile OffendersPrison ProgramsPrisonerPrisons (South Africa)RehabilitationYoung Adult Offenders |
Author: The Social Innovation Partnership Title: The Wire (Women's Information and Resettlement for Ex-Offenders) Evaluation Report Summary: Summary of findings - Reconviction rates: The reconviction rate for the eligible 104 engaged WIRE partcipants (out of a total of 342 referred women) was 42%, against 51% for the national average for women offenders and 88% for prolific offenders. Whilst there are issues around how this is evidenced, our additional qualitative analysis broadly supports that the WIRE is a valued service. - Desistance: The average number of offences per participant halved for the 12 months at liberty after the programme as compared to the 12 months before (at 2 offences as compared to 4 previously). Again, there are similar evidencing issues, although we seek to address these through our additional analysis (e.g. interviews). - OASys:Using OGRS3 categories, roughly half of WIRE participants in "high" and "very high" risk of reoffending categories had not reoffended after 12 months (which is half the standard OGRS3 period), which appears to be an encouraging result. However, these results will need to be confirmed after two years post-conviction. - Continuing success: Resourcing issues could affect the ongoing success of the WIRE programme, limiting staff's ability to (i) give dedicated personal support and (ii) perform a sufficient amount of ongoing reporting to improve performance as measured by both Stage 1 and Stage 2 indicators, and also to evidence successes and support fundraising. - Programme Strategy: Evidence suggests that WIRE outcomes are more likely to be achieved at the early stage (Stage 1) of WIRE interventions. - People (resourcing): The project struggled to match staffing levels with demand (principally due to funding constraints), despite this the team were able to meet housing and meet at the gates targets. - Administration: There were a number of issues identified with reporting strategies. The evaluators worked with the WIRE team to identify and implement solutions. - People: The complex nature and motivation of clients to change has the potential to impact the success of the project, clients need to want to engage for success to be achieved. The staff are also a key component of the success of the project, the workers need to possess a unique blend of tenaciousness to achieve outcomes and empathy to understand the women's experiences. - Outcomes: Housing outcomes are a strength of the WIRE and it is from this solid foundation that the workers are able to support the women in desisting from crime. - Process: The individualised nature of the service requires staff have skills and that enable them to dedicate the time needed to support women through this intense period. High demand for the service and funding constraints mean staff numbers are such that they have been focusing on Stage 1 as opposed to stage 2. Recommendations and Next Steps - Evidence practices: A number of reporting and evidence practices have been improved in the course of this evaluation. These improvements should be endorsed and maintained, within the WIRE and beyond, as a way of improving services, ensuring value for money and potentially assisting with future fundraising activities. - Staff and resourcing: Sufficient staff and resources should be allocated to the WIRE, including administrative support, to allow the core team to focus on delivery. To improve Stage 2 outcomes, the programme should be seen as sufficiently distinct (WIRE Plus) to require smaller case loads - Process refinements and stakeholder engagement: Work should be done with prisons to restore an appropriate prison presence, even if just once a week, for WIRE staff. Awareness of the WIRE and its full range of work (i.e. beyond housing) should also be raised amongst other key organisations, along with the evidence of the WIRE's work with clients. Details: London, UK: The Social Innovation Partnership, 2012. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 16, 2019 at: https://www.stgilestrust.org.uk/misc/Support%20for%20vulnerable%20women%20leaving%20prison%20full%20report.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.stgilestrust.org.uk/misc/Support%20for%20vulnerable%20women%20leaving%20prison%20full%20report.pdf Shelf Number: 154216 Keywords: DesistanceEx-OffendersFemale OffendersGenderHousingPost ConvictionPrisonerPrisoner-Release ProgramsPrisonsReoffendingResettlementWomen Offenders |
Author: Prisoner Learning Alliance Title: Unlocking Potential - Three Years On Summary: In May 2016, Dame Sally Coates published her influential review - Unlocking Potential, which set out a holistic vision for prison education. Following publication of the report, the government accepted the main recommendations in principle. However changes in government and administration meant that a detailed implementation plan was not published. In this briefing, we outline progress on the main recommendations. Overall, our assessment is that fair progress has been made in some major areas. However, it is too soon to assess the effectiveness of the new funding arrangements and the new contracts that underpin them. It is hard to give a more positive assessment until further improvements have been realised for prisoner learners. This is a pivotal moment for prison education and the reforms need to be supported by specialist training for staff and effective data management systems if they are going to deliver as hoped. A number of recommendations have not been implemented yet and we hope that these will now be reviewed. Details: Vauxhaull, England: Prisoner Learning Alliance, 2019. 4p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 30, 2019 at: https://prisonerlearningalliance.org.uk/resource/unlocking-potential-three-years-on/ Year: 2019 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://prisonerlearningalliance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Unlocking-potential-%E2%80%93-three-years-on.pdf Shelf Number: 156114 Keywords: Education Program Incarceration Prison Education Prison Program Prisoner |
Author: Wainwright, Lucy Title: What do You Need to Make the Best Use of Your Time in Prison? Summary: The Prisoner Policy Network was launched in 2018 to support prisoners to contribute effectively to policy issues that affect them. Prisoners have embraced this national opportunity to be heard and this consultation has been marked by prisoners being proactive about getting in touch and working with prison staff to organise workshop visits by the PPN team. Our second report What do you need to make best use of your time in prison? discusses prisoner experiences of life behind the wall and their thoughts on exactly what is needed to make best use of time served. We received a wide range of responses from over 1,250 prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families. There were multiple examples of good practice, and prisoners were at pains to show that they were not simply highlighting grievances but suggesting positive ways to move forward. Many prisoners highlighted positive contributions from staff, and we are very grateful to the officers who have taken to the work of the PPN and contributed in their own way. What this shows is that prisoners want to have healthy, respectful relationships with staff with the understanding that a calm, safe and productive prison environment benefits all. Beyond the basics of cleanliness, order, well-trained staff, and a consistent regime, prisoners want education that stretches the mind and delves deep, training that bestows industry recognised qualifications, the opportunity to use the skills they came in to prison with, and work experience that makes them attractive to future employers. Prisoners want the breadth of the education, employment and training offer to be increased, and to make better use of technology so that prisoners can access educational materials, maintain family contact, and find information about outside agencies on which they will rely in future. Connection with wider society, a desire to be reintegrated and not forgotten about came through as a priority. People in prison need a reason to be optimistic. They want to move from despondency to belief that this time in prison will be their last. They seek reassurance that on the outside there is a potential future awaiting them that doesn't provoke anxiety and dread, but instead makes them feel positive about their chances. Maintaining their connection with that future requires cheaper phone calls, and visits that are relaxed and mindful of the impact that a bad visit can have on family as well as the prisoner. Families have told us that they need to be more fully involved in the prison sentence so that they can help, and know what to do to support effectively both during custody and on release. Above all, this consultation has shown that prisons need to promote personal growth as an end in itself, not just a means to reduced reoffending. Making best use of time in custody is about the here and now as well as what will happen after release – which for an increasing number of prisoners will be years or even decades away. Good citizens value the community in which they live and are conscious of their responsibilities towards it - that is as true inside prison as outside, and prisoners want the opportunity to create a good life for themselves and the people they live amongst. This all goes to the way the prison thinks and works - the culture that informs and guides the thousands of interactions that make up its daily existence. Much of the existing policy framework for prisons in England and Wales supports that approach, in theory, but it is clear from this consultation that policy is only applied in some places and only for some of the time. Determined national and local leadership remains essential, encouraged we hope by the clear evidence from this report that prisoners are willing to play a much bigger role in creating prisons that use time well. But during this consultation prisoners have also made many specific and practical recommendations for change that will make a positive difference. They include: 1. A stable, safe and consistent regime with a well communicated set of expectations for prisoners and for staff is an essential building block for a prison where time is well used. Prisons should ensure good communication, with prison rules and processes clearly conveyed to new arrivals, and these should be updated and made readily available to existing prisoners. 2. Prison staff need to be supported to develop ways of working that build inspiration and model different ways of resolving conflict, disputes and tension. 3. Prison security department assessments should be communicated to prisoners clearly with an outline of how a prisoner can improve his or her risk assessment to permit progress. Prisoners must be told what they can do to restore trust and be given opportunity to earn it. 4. Prison education should be developmental and go beyond basic skills. Any prisoner should have the opportunity to go beyond their existing level of achievement or learning. For example, long sentence prisoners should be able to access Open University and other degree courses before the current seven years from release, and prisoners with pre-existing workplace skills should have the chance to keep them up to date. 5. The arts and creativity have a key place in prison to support engagement, tackle isolation and build optimism. Prisons should show that they value that contribution in the way that resources of both time and money are allocated. 6. Prisons should conduct a skills audit for each prisoner on arrival and utilise these skills to support and enhance life inside prison. 7. Prisoner-led initiatives are vital to increase agency, a sense of ownership and responsibility for the health of the prison community. Prisons should create space and opportunities for prisoners to demonstrate that they can be trusted, including by involving prisoners in decision making and scrutiny functions. 8. Prisons should enable greater and better quality access to families and the wider community as part of a strategy of building prisoners' capacity to change, and to sustain change in resettlement post release. Controlled access to the internet would transform prisoners' ability to help in delivering this ambition, as well as multiple other objectives relevant to education, health and personal growth. 9. All prisons should make it easy for community-based organisations to contribute to the health of the prison community 10.Prisons should provide more practical help towards resettlement and this should start earlier in the sentence. This should include practical life skills training in cooking, cleaning and budgeting for example, all of which can then be practiced during the sentence, but also more support for finding housing and accessing benefits before release. OMU departments should be more proactive in meeting with prisoners, even if that means going on the wings to meet prisoners in their cell. 11. Prison wages should be reviewed and brought into line with the rising cost of canteen items and the high cost of prison phone calls. Prisons should not expect families to make up the shortfall in basic provision. Details: London: Prisoner Policy Network, 2019. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 11, 2019 at: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/PPN/What_do_you_need_to_make_best_use_of_your_time_in_prisonlo.pdf Year: 0 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.artsincriminaljustice.org.uk/what-prisoners-need-to-make-the-best-use-of-time-in-prison/ Shelf Number: 156958 Keywords: Correction Officers Corrections Prison Staff Prison Wages Prisoner |