The future is in our hands
insidetime the National Newspaper for Prisoners
By Ben Gunn ..................... PAGE 24
A ‘not for profit’ publication / Circulation 46,000 (monthly) / Issue No. 118 / April 2009
THE INSIDE TIME ADVERT THAT ENDED SEAN HODGSON’S 27 YEAR INJUSTICE
ean Hodgson, in glasses, with his jubilant brother steps out of the shadows into the sun outside The Royal Courts of Justice after the Court of Appeal quashed his conviction for murder. He served 27 years before DNA tests proved his innocence. Mr Hodgson always pleaded his innocence but few were listening - until he picked up a copy of Inside Time and saw an advertisement by Julian Young & Co. solicitors that specialised in criminal appeals. Judy Ramjeet, a partner at the law firm, received his letter and visited him at Albany Prison on the Isle of Wight. Ten years earlier, the Forensic Science Service told Mr Hodgson’s lawyer, at the time, that exhibits from the case in 1982 had not been kept, delaying, as we now know, his release by more than a decade. Julian Young told Inside Time that legal action against the FSS would almost certainly follow. Report from Court 4 - Page 21
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insidetime
a voice for prisoners since 1990 the national newspaper for prisoners published by Inside Time Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of New Bridge, a charity founded in 1956 to create links between the offender and the community. Registered Office: 27a Medway Street, London SW1P 2BD
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Trevor Grove - Former Editor Sunday Telegraph, Journalist, Writer and serving Magistrate. Geoff Hughes - Former Governor, Belmarsh prison. Eric McGraw - Former Director, New Bridge (1986 - 2002) and founder of Inside Time in 1990. John D Roberts - Former Company Chairman and Managing Director employing ex-offenders. Louise Shorter - Former producer, BBC Rough Justice programme. Alistair H. E. Smith B.Sc F.C.A. - Chartered Accountant, Trustee and Treasurer, New Bridge Foundation. Chris Thomas - Chief Executive, New Bridge Foundation.
The Editorial Team
If you would like to contribute to Mailbag, please send your letters to ‘Mailbag’, Inside Time, PO Box 251, Hedge End, Hampshire SO30 4XJ.
At last someone is listening .......................................................................................................... MARK BRADLEY - HOUSING LINK DEPT, HMP SUDBURY Nottingham Probation Service should be congratulated and supported on addressing a massive problem when prisoners are released - homelessness. I estimate that 20% of the prison population here at Sudbury will be released NFA (no fixed abode); this figure does not even take into account those staying with friends, relatives etc. Nottingham Probation has realised the immense problems this is causing and are currently the only probation service in the country to take a lead working with The Gateway Project (Nottingham City Council) to provide help and support finding accommodation, solving debt related matters and organising grants and furniture for homes once they are found. Unfortunately, funding is only available at present until December 2009. I was appalled to learn when I first started working here in the Housing Link Dept that prisoners are unable to register with many councils until 28 days prior to release. To accrue enough points to enable a successful bid, you must then present yourself to the homelessness department and register with them on your day of release. Hostels are struggling to meet demand, and many private landlords are reluctant to rent to ex-offenders. I believe it is about time that all the authorities concerned realised the connection between homelessness and re-offending, after all, it's not exactly rocket science is it? So if you know of any similar projects pending or in action I would very much appreciate hearing from you.
Tampering with history .......................................................................................................... CHARLES BRONSON - CSC UNIT, HMP WAKEFIELD I read your March issue and it’s a bit rich the government wanting to ban books by serving and former prisoners ... does that ban mean everyone? What about Lord Archer, Jonathan Aitken, Oscar Wilde, George Best, Tony Adams, Lester Piggott ... perhaps even Nelson Mandela? The list is endless and such a ban would be tampering with history - and anyway, why shouldn’t cons write books and make some cash for their freedom in order to start a new life?
Rachel Billington
John Bowers
Novelist and Journalist
Writer and former prisoner
If anything, certain books can deter youngsters from embarking on a life of crime - I get letters from parents thanking me for turning their kids away from crime through the stuff I’ve had published. My books aren’t about drugs; they are against crime and expose the murky world of our penal institutions for what they are, and perhaps that’s what the government dislikes ... the truth … the other side … anything that exposes the corruption and the cloak and dagger brigade’s activities. No sane person wants to end up like me ... living in a cage ... a concrete coffin where I’ve spent the last three decades, and then perhaps dying in jail ... the cruellest, loneliest death imaginable. I’m doing my books; creating my art; being positive; respectful; so what does the government want from me? I know what I want from them ... I want moving out of this graveyard onto normal location so that I can move on ... and above all, I want my freedom. Film Review page 41
Eric McGraw
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Keeping up appearances ..................................................... CHARLES HANSON - HMP BLANTYRE HOUSE Inside Time readers might be interested in a letter I received from the Treasury Solicitor relating to costs incurred for haircutting about which I (successfully) sought reimbursement. Although the figure is £62, the actual claim I filed at the local County Court was in fact for £128; this figure includes interest of the amount and costs of launching my claim. What is clear from the Treasury Solicitor’s admission, and of significance to all serving prisoners, is that the prison service has a duty of care that includes provision for healthcare, health and hygiene (bathing, clean clothes, haircutting and shaving); and this was the basis of my argument in the claim. Moreover, European Prison Rules set down the basic standards required for prison administrators of the member states of the Council of Europe, and the UK is a signatory; I also made reference to that in my claim. My argument was that the above provisions could not be adequately met in the case of haircutting by allowing untrained prisoners to cut fellow prisoners’ hair, and that there existed no proper supervision to ensure the proper health and hygiene practices were followed as one would expect of professional hairdressers. My argument concluded that I should not contribute towards my own imprisonment, and haircutting is a necessary requirement for the preservation of self-respect and decency. Clearly, the argument was persuasive enough that the client (the management of HMP Blantyre House) saw fit to accept the claim no doubt on the advice of the Treasury Solicitor. I do know there are some prisons which allow for civilian hairdressers to come into the prison a couple of times a week and East Sutton Park, the female open prison which has its own hairdressing salon, should be making provisions for prisoners at Blantyre House to have access to that facility. After all, Blantyre is clustered with East Sutton Park and we share the same governor and staff and some facilities. I won’t go into sex discrimination here; however I would bet there is an opening for that argument too. Up until now I have been paying for a haircut every six weeks when I am out in the community and on prison earnings of only £9.50 per week, the charge of £7 is quite a lump. Maybe I have set a precedent here and the argument can be taken forward by others? Political correctness page 27
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Star Letter of the Month ........................................................... Congratulations to David Greaves who wins our £25 prize, a cheque dated April 1st is on it’s way for this month’s Star Letter.
A normalizing effect ..................................................... DAVID GREAVES - HMP LITTLEHEY A taxi driver friend of mine contacted me recently and mentioned a fare he’d taken to the Home Office. On arrival, the man asked my friend to wait while he ‘popped into the office’. After ten minutes waiting, it became apparent he’d ‘done a runner’. My friend went to the back of the cab and noticed a plastic folder on the floor marked ‘strictly confidential’. It contained a document with the title ‘Proposals for Androgynous Custody in HM Prisons’. The white paper, in short, suggests that as female prisons are largely under subscribed and the male estate grossly over subscribed it would provide a considerable saving in costs and efficiency by combining them. To end the policy of segregation along sexual lines, men and women could be detained within the same prison walls; indeed not just the same prison but the same wings, the
If you would like to contribute to Mailbag, please send your letters to ‘Mailbag’, Inside Time, PO Box 251, Hedge End, Hampshire SO30 4XJ.
same spurs and in exceptional circumstances, in the same cell. The most revolutionary aspect of the paper was the ‘demi-custody’ whereby a man’s partner could join him on a permanent basis and serve half the sentence with him; for example, if his term was two years they would do a year each, concurrently, thus completing the sentence in half the time. The paper continues that men and women living together could be of great benefit to the system. It would have a dramatic effect on reducing the high numbers of suicide, self-harm and violence. In keeping with modern society, it might have a great normalizing effect; as with the practice of having female officers on men’s wings, women prisoners might be a welcome introduction to an all male environment - a better balance to their prison experience. The leaked paper suggests that a medium sized prison such as Littlehey might be used as an experimental prototype; the trial period to commence early in 2010 and last, initially, for a year. Changes would need to be made to the facilities of an all male prison. Men could shower in the morning and women in the evening until more showers were provided. Provision for hair dryers would be required, also extra shoe storage. It suggests that condom machines could be sited on the wing. The canteen list would have to be radically revised to accommodate make-up and other beauty products; these would be available to all prisoners, regardless.
A flood of trivial recalls .................................................................................................................. FRANK MCVEY - HMP DUMFRIES At a time when overcrowding in prisons has become such a serious problem, a flood of trivial recalls is the last headache the prison system needs; especially when minor infractions of the conditions of an extended sentence, as we all know, can cause an offender to serve many more years in prison. Sending anyone back to prison for not seeing ‘eye to eye’ with a social worker, or being late for appointments, doesn’t fall short of being classed as unethical bureaucracy. I have met many men who are well aware that their freedom on licence will be short lived because conditions are so restrictive. Conversely, I have met men who, with the best intentions and optimism, are shocked to find themselves back in prison because they forgot, overlooked, or didn’t fully understand one of the rules of restriction. Under these circumstances it would appear that release on an extended sentence is a catch 22 situation, in which Murphy’s Law is bound to prevail. There is something wrong with a system where, at a summary court, a minor infraction of the rules could warrant a caution, fine or thirty days in jail. Yet for the same infraction, the Parole Board can leave an offender languishing in jail for years. How any Parole Board can reconcile itself to thinking that such a punitive action is conducive to rehabilitation is, in my view, highly questionable. Lord Faulkner suggested that instead of recalling trivial offenders to serve out their extended sentences, they should be brought back to serve a sharp thirty-five days and then be released. This would alleviate overcrowding. The media quickly condemned the proposal. Perhaps it would be helpful to suggest that the entire concept of extended sentencing has failed because sentences are so inordinately long; overseen by an unrestricted Social Work department and controlled by over zealous Parole Boards.
Prison law funding ensure your voice is heard! ..................................................... CHRIS STACEY - UNLOCK
Their ideas for the first stage of the consultation include: 1) Cases being pursued only where there is a realistic chance of an outcome that would be of real benefit to the prisoner; 2) Replacing the current system of ‘payment by the hour’ to either a standardised or fixed fee scheme; 3) Limiting work to firms that meet a minimum level of expertise in prison law. The second phase of reforms include: 1) Introducing a dedicated telephone helpline so cases can be resolved over the phone; 2) Greater use of video conferencing; 3) Introducing ‘block contracting’, where firms bid to provide services for all work at a specific prison for a given period at a set price. UNLOCK has contacted both the LSC and NOMS to find out how prisoners will be consulted on these reforms. Despite the Government having a duty to consult widely and ensure that the consultation is widely accessible, neither the LSC or NOMS seem willing to consult with prisoners.
UNLOCK will be responding, and would be happy to include, in their original format, any responses that you may wish to contribute. Submissions can be addressed to Chris Stacey, UNLOCK, 35a High Street, Snodland, Kent ME6 5AG, and need to be received no later than Monday 27th April 2009.
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Newsround .............. pages 10-15 ●
The Butler Trust Awards 2009 ...................................... page 10
Month by Month ............ page 16 Education ......................... page 17
© prisonimage.org
........................... Carrot or stick?
Inside Health .......... pages 18-19 Comment ................. pages 20-30
It is essential that these proposals are open to scrutiny from those who will be directly affected by any changes.
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UNLOCK feel it is imperative to allow prisoners the opportunity to respond. If you wish to contribute, we have been informed that you can obtain a full copy of the consultation from Keely Riordan, Policy Directorate, Legal Services Commission, 4 Abbey Orchard Street, London SW1P 2BS.
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As some Inside Time readers may already be aware, the Legal Services Commission (LSC) has recently announced a consultation into the way that legal aid in prisons is going to be funded in the future. They are looking to make a number of fundamental changes which will have a massive impact on the way that prisoners are able to obtain legal aid funding for prison law cases.
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Mailbag
Worshipping psychology Keith Rose ..................... page 26
Short Story ................. pages 31 News from the House pages 32-33
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Book Reviews .................. page 40 Drama & Film Review ..... page 41 Poetry ........................ pages 42-43 Jailbreak ................... pages 44-48
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Mailbag
If you would like to contribute to Mailbag, please send your letters to ‘Mailbag’, Inside Time, PO Box 251, Hedge End, Hampshire SO30 4XJ.
I’m not a crime boss, drug supplier, witness intimidator and I don’t really wish to escape, but I am in a prison so far from home that it makes visits near impossible and I have a partner who has recently given birth. I have a large family that I am very close to and, quite frankly, I got sick and tired of putting £15 a week on the phone only for it to be gone in no time at all. So when an opportunity presented itself for free weekend calls to landlines, or unlimited texts, or any of the other tempting deals offered by mobile phone companies, I accepted with a smile on my face. However, my advice to anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation would be to steer well clear, you stand to lose far more than you gain.
Don’t be tempted! ..................................................... LUKE WHITEMAN - HMP RANBY We are all aware of the recent telecommunications war being fought on two fronts across the prison estate. On one side you have over 80,000 inmates struggling to pay the ludicrous prices charged to use the PIN-phone system and fighting to have the rates cut to resemble some similarity with what the rest of the country pay. On the other side you have prison security fighting to bring down the ever increasing supply and demand for mobile phones. I was caught recently with a mobile phone during a cell search and am sitting here wondering what punishment will come my way; loss of ‘D’ category status and HDC eligibility? What surprises me is the general view of prison staff that I’ve been using the mobile to organise crime, have drugs thrown over the wall, plan escapes and threaten victims. I feel insulted by their comments; whilst I understand their concerns, it’s as absurd as saying a motorist buys a car for the sole purpose of breaking speed limits.
¬ Inside Time writes: Under the Freedom of Information Act, we asked the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) how many mobile phones were found in British Prisons during 2008 - or if those figures aren't available, the figures for 2007. Also, having accessed a mobile phone; what means would be available to the prisoner to charge the phone in his cell? The NOMS response was that prisons in England and Wales are asked to send mobile phones and SIM cards that they find to a central unit. In 2008, this unit received 3,910 mobile phone handsets and 4,189 SIM cards. ‘Prisoners are not allowed mobile phones. Therefore no means are made available for prisoners to charge mobile phones in their cells’. ‘The National Offender Management Service is implementing a strategy to minimise the number of phones that enter prisons, and to find and disrupt those that do. This includes introducing a range of new technology to support prisons with their local searching and security strategies. NOMS have also strengthened the law: the Offender Management Act 2007 makes it a criminal offence with a penalty of up to two years for bringing an unauthorised mobile phone into a prison.’
Guilty until proven innocent .....................................................
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I am concerned that my former cell-mate was regressed from enhanced to basic level of the Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) scheme; the reason for this decision being a positive screening report, for which the adjudication is yet to be completed as he pleads not guilty. How can he possibly be downgraded before the case has even been heard?
I am concerned that plastic cutlery regularly used in HM Prisons releases a chemical (Bisphenol A; commonly abbreviated as BPA) when exposed to hot food and beverages. Recent studies have found BPA to be a carcinogen that causes reproductive problems, therefore given that prisoners use plastic cutlery on a daily basis, are steps being taken to find alternatives?
¬ The Ministry of Justice writes: Firstly, we would advise that if Mr Butler’s former cell-mate is unhappy with the decision to alter his IEP level that he uses the complaints process to appeal the decision. More generally, each prison’s IEP scheme will normally operate on at least three tiers: basic, standard and enhanced. Most prisons will not have a sufficient range of privileges to provide more than three distinct levels, but may do so with the agreement of their Area Manager or ROM. Prisoners move between levels according to their behaviour. The entitlements for each level consist of key earnable privileges which apply to all prisons and additional privileges which vary according to local circumstances. On entering custody, all prisoners must be placed initially on the standard privilege level and a review undertaken within the first month. When a prisoner has consistently achieved the type of behaviour and performance specified in the local scheme, he or she may advance to the level above. If the prisoner’s behaviour or lack of progress demonstrates that he or she cannot sustain his/her current privilege level, he or she may be downgraded to the level below. The fast-tracking of prisoners from enhanced to basic must be avoided except in the most serious cases of misconduct, e.g. assault. In this instance, a review must take place and be endorsed by the Governor or Director.
SOLICITOR NOTICE BOARD Were you a resident at Dr Garrett’s Children’s Home in Conwy, North Wales in or around 1981. We are a firm of solicitors who are seeking witnesses to assist us in our Investigation. If you attended the home during this time please contact: Caroline Chandler in CONFIDENCE on
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Plastic cutlery no hazard
BRYAN BUTLER - HMP LOWDHAM GRANGE
Dr Garrett’s Children’s Home
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¬ The Ministry of Justice writes: Products containing or made from BPA have been in commerce for more than 50 years, and its current uses are numerous including baby and water bottles. The plastic cutlery used in public sector prison establishments is manufactured from polycarbonate which, because of its resistance to both temperature and breakage, is used in a variety of food contact applications. BPA is a chemical used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastic. It is an authorised monomer for the manufacture of plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. The Food Standards Agency carried out research between 2002 and 2003 aimed to provide a better understanding of the applications and situations where BPA might migrate to food and help in assessing consumer exposure to this chemical from food contact materials and articles. During the study, twenty polycarbonate samples were obtained covering a variety of food contact applications. These include drinking vessels, cutlery, tableware and cookware. Migration tests were performed in order to measure any BPA transfer (migration) from the polycarbonate plastic. Selected samples, for which BPA migration was observed, were tested using real foods. The foods selected were soup, pasta sauce and skinless salmon fillets. Migration of BPA into food simulants was shown to be either not detectable or very low. Migration of BPA into food was less than into food simulants. The cutlery used in HM Prisons, which fully complies with the EU Directive, is considered safe and does not represent any hazard to prisoners. The full report is available from the FSA Library and Information centre. To obtain a copy, please contact the Enquiry Desk, Library and Information Services, Food Standards Agency (020 7276 8181/8182) or write to: Food Standards Agency Aviation House 125 Kingsway London WC2B 6NH.
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Bedwetting ..................................................... JL - HMP ALBANY I am writing in response to an answer that was published in the Inside Health column in your March issue . The question was from a 37 year-old bed-wetter and I disagree with some of the statements made. I am incontinent and have been for many years, and have researched thoroughly the subject of bladder and bowel incontinence and related issues. I have to wear shaped pads (adult diapers) to help with this problem and even in prison cope quite well. The response stated that bedwetting is rare; I disagree. The latest research figures suggest there may be around 14 million people affected by some form of bladder problem and 6.5 million affected by some form of bowel problem. This means that more people are suffering from these problems than asthma, diabetes and epilepsy put together. It now appears that considerably more people are affected by bladder and bowel control problems than previously reported. In 1995 a study estimated the 3% of men and 8.7% of women had reported a bladder control problem. In contrast latest research indicates that 13% of men and 32% of women have reported a bladder control problem. With the population continually growing and living longer it would be fair to say that these problems are not going to go away, they are going to increase. It is estimated that 1 in 4 of the population have some kind of bladder control problem. It is not just a problem for the older generation. Over 4 million under the age of 24 are estimated
If you would like to contribute to Mailbag, please send your letters to ‘Mailbag’, Inside Time, PO Box 251, Hedge End, Hampshire SO30 4XJ.
to have already experienced bladder control problems. Although you are more likely to be affected by bladder control problems as you get older, anyone, regardless of age or gender, can develop symptoms. In general you are more prone after the age of 45; it is interesting to see that the age group reporting the highest level of problems was the 45 - 54 year-olds.
Mailbag
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Contradiction in terms
Adult bedwetting has several causes; you may have an ‘overactive bladder’; it can be caused by anxiety or, unusually, you may produce as much urine at night as during the day - although experts cannot say why this does not wake you. It is also possible to be a side effect of certain prescribed drugs. It can sometimes run in families. Bladder retraining can help and so can cutting down on alcohol and drinks containing caffeine such as coffee, tea and some fizzy drinks - try asking healthcare to supply hot chocolate as a substitute. Special alarms can wake you when you start to leak and these gradually teach your body to hold urine or stir you from sleep to empty your bladder. There are also drugs that can help. Specially designed pants and pads can absorb leaks; some are disposable and some can be washed and reused. You can also get pads to protect your bed and chairs and special covers for your bedding and mattress. There are also products that can be used to collect urine.
¬ Dr Shabana writes: Your letter was well written and well researched. Having looked through the references I do endorse your comments and hope that others will be able to read it and find it helpful. However I do feel that it is important for people with this condition to see their doctor to exclude a physical cause. I think it would be really useful if Inside Time readers could share their experiences with each other as you did and we would be happy to print letters that would benefit others in the future. Inside Health page 18
You can have sex at 16, but you can’t gamble.
NAME SUPPLIED - HMP ALBANY What is the legal age/adult? At what age is a person deemed an adult? It’s contradictory, what do you think? The following responses were supplied to me by Maria Eagle MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice: ALCOHOL: you can’t buy or drink alcohol until 18. You can, however, drink alcohol in a restaurant at 14 if accompanied by an adult. GAMBLING: you can’t play slot machines unless you are 18, nor can you place a bet at the bookies. However, you can play the national lottery at 16. MARRIAGE: you have to be 17 to get married in England with parental consent, but you can hop over the border to Scotland and get married at 16. CHILD BENEFIT: stops when the child reaches 16 unless going on to further education. SMOKING: you now have to be 18 but until a
year ago it was 16. VOTING: currently 18 but on the cards to be reduced to 16. SOCIAL SERVICE CARE: once you reach 16 you are deemed old enough to live alone. CRIMINAL JUSTICE: part II of the Youth Justice Criminal Evidence Act 1993 deems an ‘adult’ as 17 years or over; the ‘age of responsibility’ is 10. AGE OF CONSENT: 16 or over; the 2003 Sexual Offences Act states a ‘child’ as being 16 or under. If the age of consent is 16, why are the government giving contraceptives and abortions to 13 year-olds without parental knowledge? The term ‘adult’ should be given to those who are of a mature mind where they know rights/ wrongs and have the ability to make informed choices and are mature enough to be able to seek the right help should they need to. This is not necessarily all the criteria to be deemed an adult, but it’s surely a good starting point?
Right to access
Only seeing black and white
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................ PAUL DAINTY - HMP GLOUCESTER
GEORGE GREEN - HMP WYMOTT Prisoners who have difficulty gaining access to PSOs and PSIs may be interested in the response to a question placed by lawyer Christopher Stacey under the Freedom of Information Act. In their reply, the Ministry of Justice Data Access & Compliance Unit maintain that prisoners have access to all PSOs and PSIs in their prison library and although they may not remove them (other prisoners might need them) they can request copies, although they may be charged for them: any forms within the PSOs they may need to use will be provided free of charge. The Ministry of Justice points out that anyone may access and print a PSO from the Prison Service website www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk and post it into a prisoner. The reference for the question was FOI/57116/08/AL and if a prisoner has difficulties, I suggest he places a formal complaint quoting this reference or writes to the Data Access & Compliance Unit, Information Directorate, Ministry of Justice, 1st Floor – Area C, 102 Petty France, London SW1H 9AJ.
The article in your March issue by ‘Sally’ (They just don’t know what to do with us), in which she highlighted another tragic suicide in prison, was undoubtedly about my wife Samantha, who recently took her own life at HMP Foston Hall. I would like to pass on my thanks to ‘Sally’ for her attempt at highlighting the numerous difficulties faced not only by my wife, but by countless others lost within a system that only sees issues in black and white. We at the sharp end of the stick know full well that the failings of the prison system are not often brought into the public domain. Organisations, and newspapers such as Inside Time, are the only chance we have to express our voices.
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Mailbag
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Insidetime April 2009 www.insidetime.org
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Lacking the language of emotional expression
ARTHUR DENTON - HMP HULL
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Childhood debris
NAME SUPPLIED - HMP LONG LARTIN I felt an immediate need to express my thoughts on Mr Tait’s letter ‘Don’t suffer in silence’ which appeared in your February issue. Make no mistake, I have every sympathy for the thoroughly horrible start Mr Tait had in his young life and obviously, as he states, the influence imposed on him has remained. As research shows, he is unfortunate to still be paying a debt through a life sentence; as indeed are many other ‘painful secret’ sufferers. As I look around my wing, I wonder how many, like myself, have decided to step out of our drug or alcohol induced state in order to make false allegations to claim a few thousand pounds? I was coping quite badly on my own thanks. I didn’t fly a white flag and blame my toilet of a life on a certain ‘male’ priest. I didn’t need the added stress of friends and family knowing all my dirty, painful secrets. Yet out of the blue, and initiated by Operation Aldgate, two policemen visited me at my usual abode (HMP Durham) to tell me, then ask me if what they had heard was true or not. I totally denied their allegations; I’d had it successfully buried under the debris of my childhood in my head. But they came back, talking about retribution, ‘not letting him get away with it’, ‘finding closure’ and getting my life out of the toilet where it had been for the past 20 years. I’m happy for Mr Tait that by opening up he has begun the ‘healing process’; good luck to the man. All I ask is that before he chooses to advocate dismissive opinions by ‘no win no fee’ sharks, he pauses to reflect on how it must feel to be not only disbelieved but also told to go away for reasons as trivial as the ‘time limit’ and for having over 78 previous convictions. It’s all very well the perpetrators of this type of abuse having to be brought before a court within three years, but what about their victims? When does my time limit run out?
Do you feel remorse for your victim? How does remorse feel? Why do you feel remorse? These are questions routinely fired at criminals by psychologists compiling reports and carrying out tests. I found the questions hard to respond to; I can give quite eloquent responses to most questions but when asked to show emotion ‘on demand’ I dry up and I certainly don’t think I’m alone in this.
Cell searches; judicial review ........................................................................................................ JEREMY BAMBER - HMP FULL SUTTON I recently lost a landmark case, having challenged through judicial review the right of a prison officer to search my cell during the daily cell fabric checks. My complaint was that officers are now searching the cell rather than simply doing bars and bolts. During an official search, our legal documents are put into a bag in front of us and sealed. During an AFC search, legal papers can be (and are) gone through – they can be checked but not read. As prisoners, we have no way of knowing if documents have been read, however I know that copies of legal material have been passed by security to police liaison in the past as copies were retained in my prison file. We have Rule 39 legal privilege in respect of mail/documents but as soon as I go to work an officer can enter my cell to do a fabric check and look at that material. The excuses for doing so are health and safety, fire hazard or as part of a visual volumetric check. As legal documents are exempt from the volumetric limit, all documents must be looked at to see whether or not they are subject to such controls. The judge ruled that I had no right to ask for Rule 39 privilege to be maintained and that an officer can search my possessions at any time but must not read legal material; yet they can look through it when I’m not there. So why do they bag and tag it during official searches? Solicitors and their clients must now be guarded about what is put in writing as Rule 39 can be looked at - but not read. Be warned, you’ll have no idea if a document is being looked at. If you would like to contribute to Mailbag, please send your letters (concise and clearly marked) to ‘Mailbag’, Inside Time, PO Box 251, Hedge End, Hampshire SO30 4XJ. To avoid any possible misunderstanding, if you have a query and for whatever reason do not wish your letter to be published in Inside Time or appear on the website, or yourself to be identified, please make this clear. We advise that wherever possible, when sending original documents such as legal papers, you send photocopies as we are unable to accept liability if they are lost. We may need to forward your letter and /or documents to Prison Service HQ or another appropriate body for comment or advice, therefore only send information you are willing to have forwarded on your behalf.
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Many of us are the product of male dominated environments and do not want to appear weak and consider that emotions are to be kept hidden. A whole life is spent developing a ‘stiff upper lip’. I don’t weep or beat my breast when I’m forced to talk about my crime (murder). There was a time when even I believed this must mean I experienced no remorse, although now I know better. Every time I am morally outraged by something or someone, a small voice in my head reminds me what I have done. It tells me that I have forfeited the right to moral indignation. When I despair at the length of my sentence, that voice reminds me that every day I wake up is a day more than my victim, and a day more than I deserve to enjoy. I no longer feel that remorse acquires validation by expression to a psychologist. We nearly all experience some remorse, yet I see many people who have been accused of failing to show enough. By what right can they be held to account for this? Presenting a tougher front than we really possess is so habitual that we lack the language of emotional expression. I contend that you cannot judge the heart of a man by what comes out of his mouth, so why ask questions about remorse at all? It is my wish that, during my sentence, I will be left to deal with my guilt in privacy. I want to be judged on how I conduct myself towards other people every day, not on my stunted response to invasive questioning. However I fear that, like plenty of others, I will be disappointed.
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Mailbag
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Prison ‘sources’ ........................................................................................................ MATTHEW NUTLEY - HMP ALTCOURSE I have concerns about an article published in the Daily Mirror newspaper relating to my contribution published in the January issue of Inside Time, and a ‘source’ from the prison quoted in the Daily Mirror claiming: “The guy is still seen as being dangerous. It seems a very strange decision to allow kids into his cell”.
DAVID E FERGUSON - HMP WAKEFIELD
¬ The Ministry of Justice writes: A group of young children bordering on the edge of becoming
..................................................... DANIEL GOLDSMITH - HMP GARTREE It never ceases to surprise me how popular the red-top tabloids are in prison. They are so hostile and derogatory towards prisoners that it is unfathomable to me why any prisoner would choose to pay for them. A case in point: in the February issue of Inside Time I read an interesting letter from Sophie Barton-Hawkins at HMP Downview. The piece ran under the heading ‘Meeting their needs’ and centred on improvements that had been made for the over-fifties women at Downview. Lo and behold, in the Sun on 3rd February there was a short item that ran under the blatantly more antagonistic heading 'Help the caged aged'. The piece was obviously taken from Ms Barton-Hawkins’ letter to Inside Time and the tone summed up in the closing paragraph, which I quote: A source at HMP Downview said: ‘You'd almost forget you were in jail. It's like a social club - they get together and do knitting’. It shows just how quickly the red-tops can turn a positive into a negative. In contrast, on the same day the Independent published an article called 'Barred from Online Learning', written by Yvonne Cook, and which focused on the difficulty prisoners are facing with Open University study due to the increasing need for Internet access in OU courses. The article was well balanced and written with understanding and empathy. What a refreshing change.
involved in criminal activities visited HMP Altcourse recently as a deterrent. They were not allowed into the cells. Mr Nutley’s letter to Inside Time stated that he was seen as a High Risk Offender and had been refused categorisation due to his risk. He also asked if he was such a risk then why were young children allowed in his cell. This claim was apparently also reported in the Daily Mirror. No members of staff or offenders were mentioned in the Daily Mirror article and we must stress that no confidential information was released about Mr Nutley - as staff are not allowed to make statements to the Press. Any press related enquires would be dealt with by the Press Officer. I can only suggest the information possibly came from Mr Nutley himself through his letter to Inside Time.
‘Declaration of incompatibility’ ..................................................... DARREN GAY - HMP BIRMINGHAM ‘Why is the UK still using inhumane punishment?’ Many people who were prisoners-of-war, or who are and have been political prisoners, and those held unlawfully against their will, have all been heard to say the same or similar. Although some have been treated fairly by their captors, nothing can have prepared them for the pain of emotional torture brought about by anguish and anxiety of not knowing when or even if their incarceration will ever come to an end; a tortuous experience, thus inhumane. It therefore leaves the question: why are the courts still handing down sentences that are emotionally inhumane punishments? I am talking about the continuous use of the life sentence and the creation of IPP sentences.
The UK was one of the first countries to sign up to the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) yet one of the last to ratify it into law. If the UK government had no intention of acting in accordance with the ECHR by continuing to allow courts to hand down life and IPP sentences, it should not have signed up to it. As from October 2000, legislation should have been in place to stop the courts handing down life sentences and replacing them with more appropriate determinate sentences. Having a definite release date gives a prisoner hope to get through their sentence and, more importantly, is a more humane sentence. I believe that since the ECHR became active, all indeterminate sentences handed down are a direct breach of Article 3 ‘prohibition of torture’ - torture can be physical or emotional. As such, a ‘declaration of incompatibility’ needs to be made against these sentences and the Criminal Justice Act amended accordingly. My search continues for an interested human rights solicitor to take on this mammoth task.
Views expressed in Inside Time are those of the authors and not necessarily representative of those held by Inside Time or the New Bridge Foundation.
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Neither is this the only incidence of blatant judicial/penal sex discrimination. The prison system is full of women accused and convicted of the most heinous crimes, yet there are no female ‘A’ Cat prisoners. There is not even a female high security prison capable of holding ‘A’ Cat females. Further to this, females are more likely to receive parole than their male counterparts when convicted of comparable offences. I’m all for the revision of prison policies that inflict trauma upon prisoners, however in an age where equality is a legal requirement, I question why the judiciary is allowed to implement policies and practices such as those that I have described which clearly discriminate against men.
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This is a very positive step, as the system is full of mentally and physically abused people who will have endured the humiliation of being forced to submit to the degrading requests of authoritarian figures - be they parents or carers. However the problem is not gender specific; many male prisoners will have endured the abuse that is being used to (rightly) justify the cessation of full searching of female prisoners. So why is a blatant sexually discriminative policy being implemented?
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Quite recently, PIN notice 38/2008 was issued by NOMS stating that the mandatory requirement for a full search (strip searching) of women prisoners when entering or leaving prison, or during cell searches, is to cease by April 2009. The only exception being when reasonable suspicion exists that the female has an unauthorised article concealed in her underwear. This change to policy was made in response to a ‘Women with particular vulnerabilities in the criminal justice system’ report by Baroness Corston.
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Mailbag
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Closed visits
have been ignored by the prison who have their own interpretation.
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¬ The Ministry of Justice writes: The misuse of controlled
T HOLLAND - HMP BUCKLEY HALL Could Inside Time clarify PSO 3610, as it seems this prison is interpreting the content in a different way to what is actually stated. My problem is that I was recently placed on closed visits. The form notifying me of this action stated: 'Security intelligence would suggest that your pattern of behaviour is consistent with drug activity at Buckley Hall’. I successfully appealed the decision within a matter of days through the complaints system. I feel that the rules have not been followed properly, as it clearly states … 'closed visits are an administrative measure and not a punishment'. As it is not often I receive visits, any intelligence the security department may have on me is only going to be within the prison; therefore it is unjustified to place me or any other prisoner on closed visits. PS0 3610 clearly outlines the procedure when applying closed visits - however this seems to
drugs is illegal, causes harm to individuals and disrupts the prison regime. NOMS therefore has in place a robust range of measures to reduce the supply of drugs into prisons. One of these is the imposition of closed visits to prevent smuggling through visits. To achieve a complete picture on the Prison Service’s policy on closed visits to prevent the smuggling of drugs, prisoners should read PSO 3610 alongside PSI 40/2008. In 2009 we hope to amalgamate and update these two policy documents into a new PSO, although the underlying principles are likely to remain unchanged. We shall attempt to explain the general principles of imposing closed visits on a prisoner in order to prevent the smuggling of drugs. In short, the policy enables prisons to place prisoners on closed visits if they are identified as being at risk of smuggling drugs through visits. It is impossible to give an exhaustive list
as to how a prisoner could be identified as such as ‘at risk’, as different behaviours and information will indicate different levels of risk for different prisoners. In addition, the evidence which shows a prisoner is ‘at risk’ of smuggling drugs through visits can come from anywhere. This means that for some prisoners their behaviour on the wing can show risk, as well as mobile phone use, MDT results and their behaviour in the visits hall. It is possible that the evidence could come from elsewhere too, including intelligence sources, and this is why no complete list of behaviours that give rise to automatic closed visits can be given in the PSO and PSI. This means that, if appropriate to Mr Holland’s individual case, information received by the prison about him and concerning drugs and/or mobile phones may well be sufficient to place him on closed visits. It also means that his association with certain other prisoners may mean he is more likely to smuggle drugs than other prisoners who do not associate with them, although association alone is unlikely to be sufficient to place a prisoner on closed visits in the majority of cases.
Daunting IPP requirements
Haunted by a report
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STEVEN CARTER - HMP WYMOTT
LISA-MARIE DAVIES - HMP SEND
I have concerns reference the Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence and escorted town visits for IPP offenders. We have been told that we no longer qualify for escorted town visits; yet offered no kind of explanation. The mental stress of the IPP sentence is bad enough for both prisoner and family without being held hostage and basically getting told ... ‘you will be released when we say ... that’s if we can find the key’.
I write in response to Ian Kennedy’s contribution in your February issue entitled ‘Lab Rats’. Although I agree with the majority of what he says concerning Robert Hare’s PCL-R check list, he needs to know that it is not only being used on the male prison population, as he claims.
¬ The Ministry of Justice writes: It is clear from Mr Carter’s letter that he has concerns about the nature of indeterminate sentences and the genuine difficulties faced, not only by offenders who do not have a fixed release date, but also upon their families. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that life and public protection sentences are designed to offer the public greater protection from dangerous offenders who must be kept in prison until they can be safely managed in the community. Indeterminate sentence prisoners serve a minimum term before they can be considered for release. They will then only be released if they present an acceptable risk to the public. The time needed by a prisoner to reduce his or her risk can vary considerably and the decision whether to release or not is a matter for the independent Parole Board. Regarding his query about escorted town visits; there is no automatic entitlement to escorted town visits for indeterminate sentence prisoners. Its purpose is to enable prisoners to begin the readjustment process to the outside world after a long period of imprisonment. Each case should be considered on an individual basis but clearly, the need for this facility is considerably less for a prisoner that has spent a relatively short time in custody as most IPP prisoners have. Without knowing anything about Mr Carter’s case, our advice would be for him to keep in regular contact with his Offender Manager and Offender Supervisor, so that he can talk to them about what he needs to do to reduce his risk and be clear about what is required from him. It is equally important for him that his case is reviewed by the Parole Board and that he works with the offender management system to reduce his level of risk and move towards release. We appreciate that the requirements of the IPP sentence can seem daunting in his current situation; nonetheless, public protection is at the heart of the Government’s agenda and this sentence is designed to offer the public greater protection.
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I am a ‘two-strike’ lifer and after serving my tariff of 3 years back in 2003 was given my first parole to open conditions. After being there for about four weeks the psychologist wanted to do the PCL-R on me and never having heard of it, I naively agreed. After several hours on different days of interviews, all video taped, I was left feeling emotionally drained. I had to talk about my childhood, being abused, and being brought up in the care system; all of which I had gone through previously in closed prison conditions. Bringing it all back up again was extremely painful. Then, having gone through all the crimes I had committed, along with previous relationships, when I finally received the report I was livid. Apparently I was on the cut off line! I did some research and was very upset to learn that the PCL-R was designed for males in America. I also discovered that this test was a lifetime diagnosis of psychopathic traits and behaviours. I felt stigmatised and found the whole process traumatic. A short while after this, I was back staged for drinking on my second town visit. I also believe the PCL-R results played a part in being back staged. Now, 6 years over tariff and despite completing all aspects of my sentence plan, I’m still in closed conditions. On each oral hearing, despite positive psychology reports, the one report that still keeps coming to the forefront is the PCL-R. Worshipping psychology page 26
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Tricks and tips ................................................... STEVEN GRICE - HMP BRISTOL I would like to begin work on a publication provisionally entitled ‘Prison Glue’. The idea is based on the theory that cheap toothpaste issued in prison is good for anything but cleaning teeth. Hence it is used for putting up posters, re-using stamps, healing spots and shaving nicks. I intend to compile a list of tricks and tips inmates use to make their lives a bit more pleasant. Other things that spring to mind include using matchsticks to make shelves and coat-hooks. I’m sure Inside Time readers can think of many more and so long as they are legal will be included and credited. If I am able to raise funds through selling the book, I may even offer prizes to senders of the best ideas. My second project is a poetry collection, but unlike some of the poems that feature in Inside Time it will focus on mental health issues/ conditions such as bipolar and schizophrenia. Again, contributions would be appreciated. If you have anything to contribute to either of these projects, and again I would ask that you keep it legal, send to: Steven Grice XE8156, HMP Bristol, Cambridge Road, Bristol BS7 8PS and mark the envelope ‘Prison Glue’ or ‘Poetry’.
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physics GCSE and hope to do History and Biology. I have been accepted on the Primrose Programme.
Follow your dreams .................................................................... JO WHITE - HMP LOW NEWTON I’m writing in response to the various letters I’ve read in Inside Time containing negativity towards the IPP sentence. I received an IPP in October 2007 with a tariff of 21 months and at the beginning of my sentence the letters scared me half to death. Claims by IPP people being left on endless waiting lists for courses in order to get parole made me feel there was no hope and I was being ‘left to rot’ in the system. I’m only 23 and the prospect of spending endless years in prison brought me to make an attempt on my life. However, I have pulled myself together and instead of wallowing in self pity I am trying to turn this awful experience into a positive one. I was excluded from school at 15, so left with no qualifications, but have now achieved, among other things, CLAIT, various other courses and I am currently taking GCSE English and Maths and with support from ‘Women in Prison’ I am also doing
I am working hard on my problems and towards a better future and a decent career. An IPP sentence doesn’t have to be negative; of course I still have ‘down’ days and I hate this situation, but there is nothing I can do about it. There is light at the end of the tunnel; make the most of your time, follow your dreams, get the qualifications to follow those dreams. They can’t keep you here forever - hold on to that and keep strong.
.......................................................................... LEE SHRUBSOLE - HMYOI PORTLAND I As a 20 year-old coming to the end of a sentence, can I offer my sincere appreciation to those staff here at Portland YOI for making this period the most constructive experience and in all honesty I can say that, for me personally, prison has been the best thing to have happened. However, before coming to those who have helped and supported me throughout my sentence, a few words for the eyes and
minds of young offenders everywhere who seem to look upon prison as the only way to get through life, and in the process need to give deep thought to the impact of their actions on victims, society and of course their loved ones at home. This sentence has made me appreciate that life isn’t all about money and yes, I know a lot of lads haven’t had the best of lives thus far and have been through foster homes and a lot of trauma, but far too many guys think they can do the time - until of course they get hit hard with a lengthy sentence or IPP, and suddenly the horrible reality occurs regarding just what they have done with their lives. I’m not a policemen, probation, your mum or dad, or indeed something special or a hero; I’m a young man who is exactly the same as you, yet who now realizes that he will never beat the system and needs to make something of my life and make my mum (god bless her) proud of me for what I’ve achieved and will in the future. I’ll go out shortly with my head held high and I’ll give life everything possible … my very best shot. Finally, to all those staff who have given me so much support; hopefully they will read this letter and know exactly who they are and that they have helped change a person’s life for the better.
Inaccuracies ..................................................... NICKI RENSTEN - PRISONERS' ADVICE SERVICE, LONDON Much as I am a great admirer of John Hirst and the enthusiasm and tenacity with which he challenges the prison system, I feel it important to point out that his article in your March issue: ‘Prison Service Order 1010 - Category ‘A’ Prisoners: Reviews of Security Category’ contains some major inaccuracies.
Comic Relief at Guys Marsh Prison ........................................................................................................ NELSON DAVIES - GUYS MARSH Here at Guys Marsh Prison we have managed to raise £130 for Red Nose Day by putting on comedy sketches and getting all the inmates involved to donate money from their canteen. At first it was an ambitious task, but by the sheer determination of those involved, we managed to pull it off and it was very funny indeed! At Guys Marsh there is an alcohol course called ‘Beyond the Gate’ which deals with alcohol issues and how it affects life. The lady who runs the group is Cathy Hillman, and on the group is myself and three other mentors. We got together and came up with the show that we performed in the Chapel. It helped a lot with confidence and we had great fun doing it, and we all worked well and co-operated as a team. We were allowed to get together and rehearse in the Chapel and Governor Scanlan gave us permission to do the concert. We also had Lauren who helps with the alcohol course at Channings Wood. She helped out a great deal and gave us confidence on stage; she also did our make-up for us. Our performance consisted of comedy sketches, music, puppets, and some funky dances of boys in dresses. It just shows that even though we are locked in the prison we are still thinking of the children that are suffering from malaria a world away from here, and we may not be able to put a stop to it but we can do our bit to help out and hopefully, somewhere down the line, it makes a difference to a child’s life. Well done to everybody who has done something to raise money for Red Nose Day and thanks to ‘Beyond the Gate’ and to Governor Scanlan for giving us permission to perform.
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John says that once the Cat A system was in place and operating in a secretive fashion, nothing changed for a number of years until the case of McAvoy brought in the ‘gist’ system, whereby prisoners would receive a ‘gist’ of the reports written about them, but the full reports would remain secret. The article then continues: ‘Rather than face fresh legal challenges, in PSO 1010, the Prison Service decided to make Category A reports more focussed and fully disclosable, subject to the exemptions in the Data Protection Act 1998.’ This is not at all what happened. The ‘gist’ procedure was in fact introduced following the case of Duggan in 1994 (3 ALL ER 277). In 1997, Micky McAvoy argued that the full reports should be disclosed but his challenge was unsuccessful. Category A reports actually remained secret until 2003, when Alan Lord, represented by the Prisoners’ Advice Service, used the provisions of the DPA 1998 which came into force in 2001 to challenge the non-disclosure of the full reports. Far from introducing a more open procedure to avoid legal challenge, the Prison Service resisted the case vigorously, contending unsuccessfully that they were exempt from disclosure of the reports under provisions of the DPA relating to the protection of third parties and prevention of crime. The current version of PSO 1010 was introduced in response to the Lord case.
Profit before care ................................................... COLIN BELCHER - HMP WOLDS I write to report the sad loss of a friend and fellow lifer, Sam Titley, who died here on 7th February. We believe this happened because, as always, this prison put profit before care. For a few weeks before his untimely death, Sam had been going to healthcare telling them he was having severe chest pains and not feeling very well. Healthcare did not check Sam properly; telling him he had heartburn and giving him an antacid and sending him on his way. On the day he died, he had gone to the gym like he did every Saturday but because of chest pains the gym staff sent him back to the wing to rest and get medical attention. He was locked up for evening roll check before tea and was found dead at unlock some 25 minutes later when a friend went to see why he had not collected his meal. Staff were called but did nothing until a member of staff versed in first aid procedures finally arrived, however by then it was too late. I find it hard to believe how the healthcare system here and at many other establishments put so little effort into treating us correctly. On the day of his death he had been left in his cell unattended because healthcare staff had clocked off at 3.30pm after medication issue to attend a colleague’s birthday party. How many more of us have to die before they put life above profit? Someone should be held accountable for this; we were told he died of a heart attack, aged 42, and that if he had been treated immediately then he might still be with us.
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Insidetime April 2009 www.insidetime.org
Newsround
The Butler Trust Awards 2009 A quick fix The Butler Trust Annual Awards 2009, presented by the Trust’s Patron The Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace on 18 March 2009. This year the Butler Trust received 304 nominations from 130 locations. Here we feature three award winners who were nominated by prisoners. The Butler Trust identifies and celebrates the achievements of people who work in the UK correctional services and who have shown exceptional dedication, skill or initiative in their work.
Open Award David McAlley, Prison Custody Officer - HMP Altcourse
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David McAlley developed a drama programme, prison radio station and prisoner magazine at HMP Altcourse - first on a voluntary basis, now in a paid full time position - and the way he has involved prisoners' families in this is a particular strength. According to one offender, in support of his nomination, "[Dave's work] has given me back my self respect and developed my confidence".
‘At risk’ prisoners are being issued with a take-home pack of a drug to help them recover if they overdose. Statistics show that in the region of 3,000 deaths every year in the UK are due to drug overdose, with 1,058 death certificates in 2007 giving the ‘cause of death’ as injecting heroin or morphine. The most at risk group are newly released prisoners with a history of injecting; in the first month of freedom, they are seven times more likely to die of an overdose than other heroin users. In an attempt to address the problem, 5,600 prisoners with a history of injecting will take part in April in a trial in which, come their release date, half of them will be issued with
‘take-home’ packs containing one-shot injectors of naloxone. Giving addicts free access to naloxone - a cheap antidote to heroin that is virtually free of side-effects and regularly administered by paramedics and in accident and emergency units - it is hoped could lead to a significant reduction in overdose deaths and become part of national drug treatment policy. The trial, funded by the Medical Research Council, is being run from 25 prisons in England and Scotland. On release, prisoners will receive a pouch containing a pre-loaded syringe of naloxone hydrochloride, information illustrating injection sites, and a pre-paid reply card about their drug use. Families and carers will also receive training in overdose awareness and how to administer the drug.
Wates Foundation Award for work with female offenders Evelyn Davis, Prison Officer HMP/YOI Holloway
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Evelyn has worked at HMP Holloway for twenty years covering all areas of the establishment. Described as an inspiring and motivating officer by her peers, she has gained much respect from both prisoners and staff. An officer who gives that little bit extra, she can be relied on in any situation proving her to be an excellent role model and colleague for all.
Wates Foundation Award for work with female offenders Sandra Gibson, Senior Officer - HMP & YOI Foston Hall
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Sandra Gibson's work as a Senior Officer in promoting safer custody is not unique but her dedication and ability to identify those needing help make her stand out above others. To quote from her nomination, "[Sandra's] dedication and commitment are exceptional as she does what she does without judgment or criticism and never expects anything back."
The 2009/10 Award nominations open on 3 April and close on 12 June.
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Prince William pictured with staff and clients at St Giles Trust, who gave him a royal welcome in March when he visited their head office in south London to find out more about the work they do on behalf of offenders and disadvantaged people helping them rebuild their lives. The Prince met and spoke with ex-offenders who are now employed by the Trust and with staff who provide housing resettlement services to newly released prisoners. He also met staff and clients who use the training and employment support services offered by St Giles, and Junior Smart, who works with young offenders caught up in the negative cycle of gang crime. Rob Owen, Chief Executive of St Giles Trust, told Inside Time, “Everyone at St Giles is extremely honoured that Prince William took the time to come and meet with us and hear first hand about what we do and the issues our clients face. We hope his support will help inspire people to give ex-offenders a second chance.”
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Newsround
Insidetime April 2009 www.insidetime.org
Promoting a culture of idleness
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Did I say that…?
The Howard League for Penal Reform has highlighted figures showing more than 12,000 men and women now serve open-ended or life sentences in prison in England and Wales. Figures reveal: There are 5,059 prisoners serving an indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP), with around 100 new IPP prisoners going into prison each month. Only 47 IPP prisoners have been released since the introduction of the sentence in 2005; The number of men and women serving life sentences has peaked at an historic high of 7,031: The total of 12,090 men, women and children serving various forms of life sentence in England and Wales is higher than the total (11,477) of all 46 other countries in the Council of Europe added together, including Russia, Turkey, Germany and the Ukraine. Howard League director Frances Crook told Inside Time; “Men, women and children serving open-ended sentences with no certain prospect of release have dramatically increased both in number and as a proportion of the prison population, at a time when straitening public finances sees useful activity being curtailed; with prisoners left to spend decades lying on their bunks.
HMP Standford Hill’s Head of Safety David Milner (left) and Diversity Manager Amanda Sydell, pictured with Birmingham City FC winger Robin Shroot, who presented the certificates at an event of recognition to members of HMP Prison Service and prison Visitor Centre workers who participated in the 2008 Family Friendly Prison Challenge.
Prison officers and family workers from 40 prisons all over England travelled to the event to receive Action for Prisoner’s Families certificates in recognition of the contribution they made to the Family Friendly Prison Challenge, which had an educative theme thanks to partnership links with the Campaign for Learning and Year of Reading.
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John Prescott added:
Parole Board changes The Lord Chancellor has appointed the Rt Hon Sir David Latham (pictured above) as the new Chairman of the Parole Board. Sir David has taken up the post initially for one year. He was a Lord Justice of Appeal from 2000 and Vice-President of the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) from 2006 until his retirement from the judiciary in February. Christine Glenn has left the post of Chief Executive of the Parole Board, which she held for more than 7 years, and has been replaced by Linda Lennon CBE (pictured above).Linda joined in April for an initial period of 12 months; she was formerly London Area Director in Her Majesty’s Courts Service with responsibility for the civil and family courts. A public consultation process on the future arrangements for the Parole Board will be launched in the spring, led by the Ministry of Justice.
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Jack Straw speaking when in opposition
Over 1,600 children visited parents in prison thanks to the commitment of some 100 people who gathered at the certificate ceremony in Birmingham.
“Rather than engaging these prisoners with real work, or education and training, the government prefers to promote a culture of idleness and a dangerous discontent. When these thousands of individuals are finally released, as most will be, then society will be left to pick up the pieces”.
g sentin Repre rs in e prison and d n a l g En for 10 s e l a W years
“it is not appropriate for people to profit out of incarceration. This is surely one area where a free market certainly does not exist”
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“Labour will take back private prisons into public ownership - it is the only safe way forward” The first privately-run prison in the UK, Wolds, was opened by Group 4 in 1992. In 1993, before it had had a chance to evaluate this experiment, the government announced that all new prisons would be built and run by private companies. The Labour party, then in opposition, was outraged. However, during his first seven weeks in office, Jack Straw renewed one private prison contract and launched two new ones. A year later he announced that all new prisons in England and Wales would be built and run by private companies, under the private finance initiative (PFI). Today, the UK has a higher proportion of prisoners by head of population in private institutions than the US.
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Insidetime April 2009 www.insidetime.org
Newsround Community sentences contributing to prison overcrowding Government attempts to slow a rapidly rising prison population by a reformed, and credible, community sentences framework has largely failed, according to a new report published by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies at King's College in London. There is evidence that the Community Orders and Suspended Sentence Orders, which came into effect in April 2005, are contributing to the rise in prison numbers, rather than helping to arrest its growth.
Victorian Prisoner No 2
Some of the report's key findings are:
ELIZABETH SMITH
There was a fifteen-fold increase in the use of the Suspended Sentence Order in its first year and a twenty four-fold increase in the three years to 2008;
The cameras have been allowed inside Holloway - Europe’s largest female prison - to make a three-part documentary series. Holloway comes across as a humane institution with staff struggling to do the best they can under impossible circumstances. According to the governor, Sue Saunders (above left), many of the 500 women who arrive at the prison have been sexually, physically or mentally abused outside. A lot have serious mental health problems. Some prisoners feel more safe inside than out, and some get themselves sentenced deliberately so that they can use the prison’s detox facility as in the case of Brennan (pictured right). What makes the film so depressing is that more than half of those released are back as a matter of course. One girl featured in the documentary, who is released, reoffends within hours. mentation. Social workers, he said, were bogged down in bureaucracy; training was not up to scratch and council bosses were failing to take responsibility. The laws were in place to protect children, he said: “NOW JUST DO IT!”
Child protection failures Lord Laming has delivered a damning report on Britain’s child protection services - eight years after his report on reforming the system following the death of Victoria Climbie. Lord Laming was asked to review the system again last year, after the death of Baby P. This time he praised the Government for accepting his initial recommendations, but expressed frustration at the lack of imple-
It had been hoped that Lord Laming might challenge the refusal of government minister Ed Balls to publish Serious Case Reviews (SCR) in instances where children have died. The refusal to publish the SCR into Baby P meant that the reasons for catastrophic failure were known only to the local authority that failed. Secrecy so often assists incompetence. But Lord Laming, a former probation officer, does not agree. It looks, as though he has been made a prisoner by the very bureaucracy he criticises.
Half of all Suspended Sentence Orders handed out in the magistrates' courts are for the less serious ‘summary’ offences, suggesting that the Orders are being used too often and inappropriately; Both the Community Order and the Suspended Sentence Order appear to be getting tougher and more punitive. Use of unpaid work and curfews has been growing. Both unpaid work and curfew requirements share punishment as a main sentencing purpose, suggesting an increased resort to more punitive requirements; There is no evidence that the Community Order or Suspended Sentence Order are reducing the use of short-term custodial sentences or tackling ‘up-tariffing’. The prison population has continued to grow alongside the increasing use of the two orders. There is evidence that the sentences are displacing fines, rather than prison.
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