January 26th 2004

GIVING PRISONERS A VOICE IN
LIFE BEHIND BARS

Allowing prisoners to have input into prison life improves prisoner’s sense of safety and well being at a time when jails are feeling the strain of overcrowding, according to a new report published today by the Prison Reform Trust.

The report, Having Their Say, supported by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, is the first in-depth study of consultative forums for prisoners, known as prisoner councils, which exist in nearly a third of prisons in England and Wales. It outlines how councils allow staff to consult prisoner representatives and how prisoners can give feedback on the prison regime.

The report, which will be launched at a conference at Hewell Grange prison in the Midlands organized by the Prison Reform Trust, the charity CLINKs, and the Prison Service, notes that in recent years the idea of consulting user groups has been adopted in health and education. It says that a credible and legitimate regime should take into account the views of prisoners.

Using results from a survey of 26 prisons the report found that staff and governors believe that a prisoner council is an important tool to manage conflicts effectively and create a safe environment. This is particularly important due to the high levels of suicide and self-harm.

One prisoner representative said:

“It makes the jail easier to run by lifting the morale of the prisoners. It shows that the jail actually cares about what happens to you whilst you are in prison.”

The report also found that Prisoner Councils are a way of encouraging prisoners to take more responsibility and contribute to their rehabilitation. It
concludes:

• The main advantage of prisoner councils cited by prison governors is that they provide management with an opportunity to share proposed changes with prisoners, and prisoners have the opportunity to bring concerns to the attention of management.
• By giving a voice to prisoners’ concerns councils bring to light policies that fail to fulfil the expectations and needs of prisoners. The council was seen by many governors as vital to negotiate change and to avoid resentment.
• The existence of a council benefits staff prisoner relationships by breaking down barriers and enabling dialogue. It leads to greater understanding between prisoners and staff which contributes improving prisoners sense of well-being and safety.
• Involvement in councils is a way of promoting active citizenship and encouraging prisoners to be more responsible. Both play a critical role in the rehabilitation of prisoners, in preparing them to return to society.

The report calls on the Prison Service to set up a prisoner council in every jail that meets at least once a month and is made up of elected representatives. This needs to be accompanied by a commitment to view prisoners as members of a community who have legitimate views and concerns which should be addressed.

Speaking today, one of the authors of the report, Enver Solomon of the Prison Reform Trust, said:

‘With our jails facing acute problems due to the stresses and strains of overcrowding there is an urgent need to improve prisoners’ sense of safety and well-being. Prisoner councils contribute to this by demonstrating that management care and providing an opportunity for prisoners to have their voices heard.’

Co-author, Kimmett Edgar, of the Prison Reform Trust, said:

‘For too long prisons have been run on an understanding that prisoners should be seen and not heard. The Prison Service should take a fresh approach recognizing prisoners as informed participants in the prison community, and opening up the lines of communication so that they become more effective in meeting prisoners legitimate needs.’

Having Their Say: The work of prisoner councils by Enver Solomon and Kimmett Edgar is available from Prison Reform Trust, 15 Northburgh Street, London EC1V OJR, 0207 251 5070, Price £8.50

Notes:

1. Having Their Say is based on a survey of 26 prisons:
Acklington, Blakenhurst, Bullingdon, Bullwood Hall, Canterbury, Cookham Wood,  Doncaster, Drake Hall, East Sutton Park, Everthorpe, Frankland, Grendon, Hewell Grange, Kirkham, Leyhill, Low Newton, Lowdham Grange, Moorland, Onley, Norwich, Send, Shepton Mallet, Sudbury,The Verne,Wealstun,Wymott.

2. On 26 January 2004 the prison population in England and Wales stood at 73,286, an increase of nearly three thousand over the past year.

3. The UK now has the highest imprisonment rate in the European Union at 139 per 100,000, taking over from Portugal, which has an imprisonment rate of 131 per 100,000.

4. Last year 94 deaths by suicide in prisons in England and Wales. This includes 14 women (compared to a total of nine last year) of whom five were under the age of 21. In 2002 there were also 94 deaths, a rise of 29 per cent on the previous year.

5. There has been a 30 per cent increase in reported incidents of self-harm amongst prisoners: 7,700 in the first half of 2003. This is a reflection of the Prison Service collecting more accurate statistics on self-harm after changing its procedures last year.

6. Home Office research found that about one in three young offenders and about one in five adult male prisoners said they had been assaulted in the previous month by other prisoners.