Text c Penal Institutions

Task: read the text and compare prison conditions in Britain with those in your country.

There seems to be some confusion about the purpose of punishment. The fear of punishment, and in particular, of prison, is intended to deter people from committing crimes, but when they have committed their crimes they are not likely to be reformed in prison, where they often have to live in drab and dreary conditions, with too little to occupy them.

Many aspects of life cause discomfort or humiliation to the prisoners and are not served as instruments of punishment. Officers who specialize in negative types of discipline such as brute force, only reinforce the antisocial attitudes of the offenders. Thus prisoners are led to feel cynical about the attempts to help them. Some prisons are almost militaristic institutions with hard physical work, few privileges, little leisure time, early lights out and parades and inspections, poor food and medical care, filth and cruelty.

Sharp shock systems were introduced for young offenders with the intention of being punitive rather than reformative. The government's intention in introducing these tough regimes was to frighten young people.

All the prisons in Britain are under the control of the Home Secretary through the Prison Board. The treatment of prisoners and conditions in prisons are subject to the scrutiny of the Chief Inspector of Prisons who must report annually to the Home Secretary and Parliament. Several reforms of detention centres have been carried through the Prison Board and have caused great improvements in correctional institutions. Some attempt is made to classify prisoners and give appropriate treatment to each one, to relax the rules regarding access to prisoners. There are opportunities for prisoners to learn trades and to attend classes on many subjects, and prison regimes are not intended to be repressive.

Prisoners may write and receive letters and be visited by relatives and friends, and those in open establishments may make telephone calls. Privileges include a personal radio, books, periodicals and newspapers, and the opportunity to make purchases from the canteen with money earned in prison. Depending on facilities prisoners may be granted the further privileges of dining and recreation in association, and watching television.

Breaches of discipline are dealt with by the prison governor, or by the boards of visitors (visiting committees in Scotland), who have power to order forfeiture of remission. Boards of visitors (and visiting committees) consist of lay people, two of whom must be magistrates.

Ex. 1. Case study.

You are on the parole board of a prison which is so overcrowded that you must release two prisoners, Study the description of five possible candidates for release and make a decision whom to set free.

1. Alan Jones: Guilty of murdering his wife by slowly poisoning her. Described by neighbours as a kind and gentle person. His children love him. His wife had lots of affairs and pushed him to the limit.

2. Janet Green: Found guilty of shoplifting for the tenth time. She is a homeless tramp who likes to spend the winter in prison. It is early December and the weather is very cold.

3. Miranda Morgan: A drug addict guilty of selling heroin to teenagers. Has already tried two unsuccessful drug treatment programmes. Has a two year old child who will have to go into care if she goes to jail.

4. Mick Brown: Guilty of vandalism and football hooliganism. 19 years old and below average intelligence. Aggressive and gets violent when drunk. One previous offence for drunken driving.

5. Cynthia Carter: English teacher guilty of smuggling her two cats into England. This is against quarantine regulations. The customs officers would like an example to be made of her.