Prisoner rehabilitation can begin with a simple dressing gown

The government's green paper is a series of modifications to our criminal justice system devised from the top down, but it's the 'minor' issues that hold the key, says Mark Johnson

Mark Johnson The Guardian,
Wednesday 16 March 2011
Why not give victims of sexual abuse a dressing gown when they are strip searched in secure units? Photograph: Altrendo Images/Getty

I recently sat in on a group of teenagers who were discussing their life in secure units. Strip searching is a common practice on admission to many institutions, and I heard about the strong feelings that this can provoke. All spoke of the intimidation, loss of dignity and embarrassment that strip searching causes but – not surprisingly – it is worst for young people who have previously been the victims of rape or sexual abuse. They said they found strip searching, especially where two or more officers were involved, a horrific and terrifying reminder of their experiences.

One such young woman made a reasonable suggestion. How about allowing them to take their clothes off behind screens? And what about giving them dressing gowns?

To read full article, click here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/mar/16/breaking-the-cycle-minor-issues-strip-searches?CMP=twt_gu

Warren @ UserVoice: The 'real life' experts

March 2011

I recently facilitated a discussion on behalf of the Ministry of Justice with a group of ‘real life’ experts on crime. We came together at the end of February to discuss the government’s Green Paper and how it is set to try and improve our criminal justice system. The group didn’t include any professors in criminology, heads of probation or crime reduction charities, or even individuals with countless years experience working with offenders. The ‘real life’ experts I am referring to are those who have had the living experience of a life in crime and spent many years on the receiving end of criminal justice. They were, of course, ex-offenders.


The day was split into 2, a morning session run with a group of adult ex-offenders aged 30+ and an afternoon session with younger ex-offenders aged 17-26. The majority of the adult group had been crime-free for many years and most were now working within a professional capacity. The younger groups experience of criminal justice was much more recent, a lot were now working or volunteering for resettlement charities whilst a few had only been out of prison for a couple of months. Throughout the day we discussed the government’s themes which included punishment and payback, rehabilitating offenders to reduce crime, sentencing and working with communities to reduce crime. The sessions we ran offered a great deal of valuable insight. The conversations that took place were gripping from the start, all present felt strongly about the proposals and explained in great depth why they would or wouldn’t be affective. Many kept referring back to their own experience which put them in a position that no one could argue against.

Click here to read full article: http://www.outoftrouble.org.uk/connect/blogs/warrenuservoice-real-life-experts

Breaking the cycle?

What should we make of Government promises of a ‘rehabilitation revolution’?, asks Jon Collins, Director of the Criminal Justice Alliance
It should come as no surprise that the full title of the recent criminal justice green paper, ‘Breaking the Cycle’, gives top billing to the punishment of offenders. In a speech last week to Criminal Justice Alliance members, however, the Prisons and Probation Minister Crispin Blunt took as his theme the Green Paper’s second objective: rehabilitation. Rehabilitation, he emphasised, is central to the Government’s proposals – and, he insisted simply, “we must get better at it”.
How, then, does ‘Breaking the Cycle’ propose to bring about a ‘rehabilitation revolution’? Employment lies at the heart of the plans: prisoners will be expected to work up to forty hours a week and, for those serving their sentences in the community, there will be an intensive form of unpaid work. Diversion from the criminal justice system for offenders with mental health problems is marked out as a priority, and a national liaison and diversion service, as recommended by the Bradley Report, is proposed, to be in place by 2014. Payment by results – the Green Paper’s flagship initiative – will, it is hoped, encourage innovation and drive providers to deliver services that more effectively reduce reoffending. Restorative justice, recognised as having a positive impact on reoffending, as well as providing high levels of victim satisfaction, is also included, and identified as deserving a “fundamental part” in the sentencing process.
Click here to read more:    http://www.worksforfreedom.org/infocus/94-breaking-the-cycle