an article by Graham Duncan for the Centre for Mental Health’s February Newsletter
In 2016 there were 120 apparent suicides in English and Welsh prisons, the highest number ever recorded. Suicides had been rising year on year up to this point, with 84 in 2014 and 95 in 2015. So the news in 2017 that the number of prisoners who had apparently died by suicide had dropped to 77 was good news and welcomed.
Seemingly, something was happening in the prison estate to address the dramatic rise in suicide deaths and one hopes that this can be sustained and further reduce the tragedy of prison suicide. Does this reduction in suicide amongst prisons mean that prisons are becoming safer places? Possibly, but not all the news is good news.
Any suicide is one too many and therefore unacceptable. We should work towards achieving zero suicides. But suicides in prison are, and I use this phrase guardedly, relatively rare events. They are of course ‘a’ barometer of prison safety, but as relatively rare events they are probably not the best barometer. In the region of two thirds of English and Welsh prisons had no recorded suicide deaths in 2017. One prison (HMP Nottingham) is reported as having had six.
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Showing posts with label prison. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prison. Show all posts
Saturday, 31 March 2018
Saturday, 17 February 2018
Rehabilitating prisoners: the place of basic life skills programmes
an article by Michelle Jolley (University of Northampton, Northampton, UK) published in Safer Communities Volume 17 Issue 1 (2018)
Abstract
Purpose
Tackling high reoffending rates in England and Wales is of significant political interest, with education and training being viewed as an important mechanism to achieve change. The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of a small empirical study examining a life skills programme delivered in a Category C prison in the West Midlands.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used a multi-method approach incorporating observations of two modules, four focus groups with prisoners enrolled on the programme, questionnaires with programme completers, and semi-structured interviews with staff.
Findings
The findings indicate that life skills are an important component in rehabilitation. More specifically, developing the necessary tools to assist prisoners in everyday life, such as recognition, interpretation, reflection, response, and planning is fundamental to rehabilitation.
Research limitations/implications
A limitation of this study was that only prisoners currently at this Category C prison were included. This could be complemented by the inclusion of more participants who had completed the programme; however, access and data protection considerations limited the study to one location.
Practical implications
The key message of this study is that without addressing basic life skills, education and vocational rehabilitation is severely limited.
Social implications
To reduce reoffending rates, it is important to conceive rehabilitation in broader terms, not simply in relation to education and vocational training.
Originality/value
This paper offers insight into an unreported area of good practice in prison rehabilitation provision.
Abstract
Purpose
Tackling high reoffending rates in England and Wales is of significant political interest, with education and training being viewed as an important mechanism to achieve change. The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of a small empirical study examining a life skills programme delivered in a Category C prison in the West Midlands.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used a multi-method approach incorporating observations of two modules, four focus groups with prisoners enrolled on the programme, questionnaires with programme completers, and semi-structured interviews with staff.
Findings
The findings indicate that life skills are an important component in rehabilitation. More specifically, developing the necessary tools to assist prisoners in everyday life, such as recognition, interpretation, reflection, response, and planning is fundamental to rehabilitation.
Research limitations/implications
A limitation of this study was that only prisoners currently at this Category C prison were included. This could be complemented by the inclusion of more participants who had completed the programme; however, access and data protection considerations limited the study to one location.
Practical implications
The key message of this study is that without addressing basic life skills, education and vocational rehabilitation is severely limited.
Social implications
To reduce reoffending rates, it is important to conceive rehabilitation in broader terms, not simply in relation to education and vocational training.
Originality/value
This paper offers insight into an unreported area of good practice in prison rehabilitation provision.
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