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Working therapeutically with high risk prisoners

Working therapeutically with high risk prisoners. Dr. Jamie Bennett is Governor of HM Prison Grendon & Springhill and a Research Associate at University of Oxford. Introducing Grendon. Opened 1962 category B prison operating entirely as a set of therapeutic communities

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Working therapeutically with high risk prisoners

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  1. Working therapeutically with high risk prisoners Dr. Jamie Bennett is Governor of HM Prison Grendon & Springhill and a Research Associate at University of Oxford

  2. Introducing Grendon • Opened 1962 category B prison operating entirely as a set of therapeutic communities • 230 places with communities of 40 residents voluntarily staying for at least 2 years • 95% serving indeterminate sentences • Integrated clinical/operational staff group

  3. Introducing Grendon • More convictions than average • Half have attempted suicide • Two-thirds experienced severe abuse • Half used opiates/cannabis frequently prior to arrival • High prevalence of personality disorder • “damaged, disturbed and dangerous” (Shine and Newton, 2000, p.23)

  4. What is a Therapeutic Community? • Community meetings • Groups meetings • Creative therapy • Community activities • Work and education • Therapy “is based on the totality of what happens within the prison…therapy…does not occur in isolation from what is happening in the rest of the prison, rather every aspect of prison life is an integral component of the therapeutic community environment” (Brookes, 2010, p.102-3).

  5. Does it work? • Improved behaviour in prison (adjudications) • Adjudications a fifth of the rate for similar prisons and from the Grendon population, their adjudications are eight times higher before Grendon. • Difference even higher when focus on violence and drugs offences • Rises after Grendon but remains below average. (Newton 2010)

  6. Does it work? • Reduced self harm • 29 incidents of self harm per 1000 men per year, compared to 130-137 per 1000 nationally • Environmental, situation and relational issues all contribute to this success (Rivlin 2010)

  7. Does it work? • Improved quality of life for prisoners

  8. Does it work? • Value for money • Benefits include: reduction in reoffending; intermediate outcomes; improved well being; diversion. • Additional costs compared to similar category prison is estimated to be £4,556 • Cost benefit ratio estimated to be 2.33:1, so every £1 invested in Grendon will accrue social savings of £2·33 over the future course of the criminal career. (Albertson et al 2013)

  9. Does it work? • Reoffending (Taylor 2000)

  10. Can this be applied elsewhere? • Engaging staff and prisoners • Constructive and positive relationships • Grendon visits culture • Decency, trust and safety • Integrated and engaged security Bennett, P. & Shuker (2010)

  11. Can this be applied elsewhere? • Constitutions • Consistent staff teams • Staff support/training/supervision • Wing councils • Voluntary roles • Peer support • Family days/social days • Nurturing talents and interests • Reaching out

  12. Final reflections

  13. https://www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/publications/psj

  14. Contact:jamie.bennett@hmps.gsi.gov.uk

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