You're hired: Convicted bank robber becomes first prisoner with paid apprenticeship

By Daily Mail Reporter

A convicted bank robber today became Britain's first prisoner to be given a paid apprenticeship - while still behind bars.

Reuben Reynolds, 30, was a member of a four-man gang which netted £250,000 using stolen pick-up trucks to rip ATM machines from the walls of shops and banks in a five-month spree.

He was jailed for four years at Lincoln Magistrates' Court in November 2009 after admitting one count of conspiracy to steal.

Reynolds will now work for housing firm The Gelder Group after being freed from his cell at HMP Lincoln to work five days a week as a £3.60-an-hour trainee builder.

But Reynolds, who is now studying an NVQ in maintenance, will continue o be monitored by the Prison Service and must sleep in his prison cell every night. Furthermore he cannot spend a penny of his earnings until he is released.

A spokesman for The Gelder Group said the apprenticeship will be cancelled if Reynolds steps out of line.

She said: 'He's a very lucky boy. He's determined to turn his life around and get back on the straight and narrow.

'He will be closely monitored by us and the Prison Service. He's got too much to lose if it goes wrong.

'He will be working on our new build house and insurance and renovations so homeowners will be told and have the choice to say no if they wish.

'But Reuben has already been working for free on work experience and no one has had any problems.'

The apprenticeship course includes painting and decorating, plastering and carpentry through the Sturton-by-Stow firm's new training academy.

He worked several weeks for free on work experience before being interviewed for the position and agreed terms on Friday.

To read more, click here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2008676/Reuben-Reynolds-Convicted-bank-robber-gets-1st-paid-apprenticeship-trainee-builder.html

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