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Prison + Education
How about we turn our prisons into really good residential schools?
I am working from the assumptions that many people in prison are:
(1) of low-ish cognitive ability
(2) of average abilities but have missed out on the education they needed
(3) suffering with mental health problems
(4) have an ASD
(5) have poor self-esteem
I'm also working from the assumption that when people understand themselves and their own needs they're better able to cope with what life throws at them.
People also tend to do better in stable environments with the same peers/staff.
So how about we say: no prison sentences of under one year and all sentences to be for full years. Any less than a year doesn't allow enough time for a course of education to run from start to finish. Other, creative community-based punishments can be found for people who don't deserve to go to prison for a year. This stops people martyring themselves with a week long sentence for failing to pay their Council Tax.
All the prisons are small to encourage good relationships between individuals and reduce the institutional feel. Each prison will specialise in particular needs - there'll be specialist prisons for murderers & rapists during the early years of their sentences where the focus is on addressing their offending behaviour and treating any mental health problems they have.
The prison system follows the academic year, with terms starting in September, January and April. Those who are unlikely to reoffend between sentence + start date can have live at home with an electronic tag. Temporary accommodation can be found for those who have no home/are likely to offend. Between sentence + start of term, prisoners get sent to an Educational Psychologist, a Consultant Psychiatrist and get allocated to an appropriate prison for their needs where a full time programme of education (both academic and vocational depending on the individual's needs and talents and wishes) and therapy inc. work on offending behaviour/anger management/social skills as appropriate is built for them.
For prisoners who already have academic/vocational qualifications up to A level and who are ready for it, can do university level study with the Open University - that can be a separate small prison that functions a bit like an Oxbridge College. Those who don't want to do that can be given suitable supported jobs either inside or outside of the prison. They will earn at least the minimum wage, but won't be able to access their earnings until after they've been released.
Something not very nice will be devised for prisoners who don't have sufficient education and who refuse to participate in it - there's no point having people in lessons who don't want to be there. Opt outs will be available for prisoners over retirement age. Specialist arrangements will be made for prisoners who pose security risks/are likely to be violent towards their fellow prisoners. Other special arrangements will be made for prisoners with Moderate Learning Difficulties who have reached their natural plateau in terms of education - both academic & vocational - they will be supported in finding suitable jobs at that point.
That's the rehabilitation stuff sorted - these prisons will turn out people able to make a positive contribution to society, either by being ready to find a job or by making them ready and willing to continue their education elsewhere. The punishment element comes from the deprivation of liberty and the humiliation of going back to school. I'd sort of like to see greater use of indeterminate sentences to ensure that people aren't released until they're really ready for it - but the punishment needs to fit the crime and indeterminate sentences are too harsh for most crimes.
I think this might work. Maybe. We take criminals and give them the skills they need to re-enter society as productive and self-confident members. They get made to use their time in prison constructively.
I am working from the assumptions that many people in prison are:
(1) of low-ish cognitive ability
(2) of average abilities but have missed out on the education they needed
(3) suffering with mental health problems
(4) have an ASD
(5) have poor self-esteem
I'm also working from the assumption that when people understand themselves and their own needs they're better able to cope with what life throws at them.
People also tend to do better in stable environments with the same peers/staff.
So how about we say: no prison sentences of under one year and all sentences to be for full years. Any less than a year doesn't allow enough time for a course of education to run from start to finish. Other, creative community-based punishments can be found for people who don't deserve to go to prison for a year. This stops people martyring themselves with a week long sentence for failing to pay their Council Tax.
All the prisons are small to encourage good relationships between individuals and reduce the institutional feel. Each prison will specialise in particular needs - there'll be specialist prisons for murderers & rapists during the early years of their sentences where the focus is on addressing their offending behaviour and treating any mental health problems they have.
The prison system follows the academic year, with terms starting in September, January and April. Those who are unlikely to reoffend between sentence + start date can have live at home with an electronic tag. Temporary accommodation can be found for those who have no home/are likely to offend. Between sentence + start of term, prisoners get sent to an Educational Psychologist, a Consultant Psychiatrist and get allocated to an appropriate prison for their needs where a full time programme of education (both academic and vocational depending on the individual's needs and talents and wishes) and therapy inc. work on offending behaviour/anger management/social skills as appropriate is built for them.
For prisoners who already have academic/vocational qualifications up to A level and who are ready for it, can do university level study with the Open University - that can be a separate small prison that functions a bit like an Oxbridge College. Those who don't want to do that can be given suitable supported jobs either inside or outside of the prison. They will earn at least the minimum wage, but won't be able to access their earnings until after they've been released.
Something not very nice will be devised for prisoners who don't have sufficient education and who refuse to participate in it - there's no point having people in lessons who don't want to be there. Opt outs will be available for prisoners over retirement age. Specialist arrangements will be made for prisoners who pose security risks/are likely to be violent towards their fellow prisoners. Other special arrangements will be made for prisoners with Moderate Learning Difficulties who have reached their natural plateau in terms of education - both academic & vocational - they will be supported in finding suitable jobs at that point.
That's the rehabilitation stuff sorted - these prisons will turn out people able to make a positive contribution to society, either by being ready to find a job or by making them ready and willing to continue their education elsewhere. The punishment element comes from the deprivation of liberty and the humiliation of going back to school. I'd sort of like to see greater use of indeterminate sentences to ensure that people aren't released until they're really ready for it - but the punishment needs to fit the crime and indeterminate sentences are too harsh for most crimes.
I think this might work. Maybe. We take criminals and give them the skills they need to re-enter society as productive and self-confident members. They get made to use their time in prison constructively.