The Column
My monthly rant about life, the universe, and everything in it
The Column #44
Release Date:
19th February 2007
Synopsis: The prisons crisis in the UK, and ways to combat high re-offending rates.
Disorganised Crime
Hardly a week seems to go by lately without another revelation about the failings of our prison service. Recent examples include: losing track of escapees from open prisons; releasing paedophiles without charge; and failing to deport dangerous foreign criminals on completion of their sentences. As a result of this, the Criminal Justice System (CJS) is like a bankrupt gambler placing a final bet at the roulette wheel - desperately in need of a positive spin.
In 2004, the Government used street theatre, provided the Smart Justice group, to tour the country highlighting alternatives to custody and promoting proven crime reduction schemes. The event featured a life-sized re-creation of a shop and a prison cell, separated by a revolving door, and was supposed to renew public confidence in the CJS. It was alleged that the show also involved a cunning re-work of the dance hall classic the Hokey Cokey which went something like this: ‘you put your heroin addict in, your shoplifter out, in out in out shake them all about, they do the hokey cokey as the criminal justice system turns them round, that’s what it’s all about’, however this has never been proven.
According to recent figures, prisons in England and Wales are now full (80,000 capacity), and the problem is only likely to worsen, as two thirds of prisoners released will re-offend within two years (figure is 78% for men aged 18-21). These figures are quite alarming, and exacerbate the need for a coherent strategy to tackle the issue immediately.
A shining example of a criminal reform program is The Delancey Street Foundation in San Francisco, which gives hardened criminals the chance to orchestrate their own recovery in an environment of opportunity. The foundation is independently funded and currently houses around 500 residents who will stay for an average of four years. The residents run a string of businesses to support themselves financially, including a gourmet restaurant that is a particular success; note that it may not be advisable to complain to the chef, just in case he is a violent ex-con who is still in the early stages of rehabilitation.
The Foundation was set up by criminal psychologist Mimi Silbert in 1971 with a loan of $1000 and a derelict warehouse. Since then she has overseen the rehabilitation of 14,000 residents, and is now employing reformed ex-residents to visit jails across America to recruit new candidates for the program. In spite of the success of the foundation, Silbert admits that it won’t work for everyone, hence sex offenders and people with severe psychological problems are not permitted. The Foundation has become renowned for its achievements, and now receives donations from outside companies and benefactors.
The idea of employing reformed ex-residents gives a sense of hope to any new arrivals, as they immediately have a role model, mentor, and potential new friend to aid in their recovery. Tony Blair recently spent some time there (strictly as a guest of course) and was so impressed that he wants to introduce a similar system in the UK. Rumours that the residents will be expected to run a network of poor quality late-night takeaways are as yet unfounded.
The Cenacolo Community, established in Italy by Sister Elvira Petrozzi, shares many similarities with The Delancey Street Foundation. Together with two colleagues (a fellow nun and a teacher) Sister Elvira leased an abandoned old house from the city of Saluzzo in 1983 (for the token sum of $1 per year) and set out to offer ‘hope and help for men and women suffering from addictions and the emptiness of modern life’. Her initial approach was quite relaxed, allowing the residents to drink and smoke (the staple diet of all Italians), however she soon realised the need for a much stricter doctrine in order to truly reform the residents. She has since set up over 45 communities across Europe and the USA.
In 2005, the Cenacolo Community opened its first UK rehabilitation centre at Dodding Green near Kendal (Lake District). The centre is particularly aimed at people wishing to conquer drug addiction, and is based around a strict work and prayer regime to keep the residents occupied. The doors are not locked, but residents accept that they must stick rigidly to the routine, avoiding television, radio and newspapers, as well as alcohol and cigarettes. In a crude sense, the centre functions as a spiritual boot camp, giving the residents a new way of dealing with life’s problems through intense lifestyle focus.
Whilst the two communities described above aren’t suitable for all offenders, and rely to a certain extent on the goodwill of benefactors, they none-the-less demonstrate that there are workable alternatives to traditional prisons. The support network model on which they operate could be used as a basis for varying forms of rehabilitation, each aimed at specific sectors of the prison population, with a view to tackling the causes of crime and understanding the needs of the prisoners. As George Harrison once said, “When The Beatles were on Ed Sullivan, even the criminals had a rest for ten minutes.”