8 - Reform of Prisoners

• Elizabeth Fry

  • She was a Quaker who was a C19 prison reformer known as the 'angel of prisons'
  • She visited Newgate Prison in London in 1813 and saw the need for reform
  • She wanted education for female prisoners, so taught them to read and write
  • She also taught them to sew and knit, to earn a living after prison
• Prison Chaplains

  • A chaplain is a priest/vicar/imam attached to non-religious institutes
  • Their job is to provide pastoral care for patients, pupils or prisoners
  • They provide counselling to prisoners, supporting them through the reform and seeing to their religious needs
  • They are emotional support. They help prisoners deal with a mix of emotions such as fear, loneliness and concerns about family
  • They help prisoners re-enter the community
  • They help families of prisoners, as they can be victims because of the the imamates' crimes
• Punishment of Reform?

  • Some think prison should be a place of punishment. Prisoners should have few privileges
  • Others see prisons as a place of reform. Prisoners should receive treatment that will equip them for life as responsible citizens
• Services

  • Drug rehabilitation
  • Education
  • Work training
  • Counselling
  • Chaplains
• Problems in Prisons

  • Human rights - Prisoners are entitled to humane treatment but face overcrowding poor treatment and a lack of access to important services which results in assaults and suicide
  • Numbers - The current prison population is very high
  • Re-Offending and Education - Re-offending rates are high and less prisoners have qualifications compared to non-prisoners