Prison, Race, Rehabilitation and Wasted Potential

The rate by which the United Kingdom incarcerates people is nothing less than shameful. According to www.researchbriefings.parliament.uk, England and Wales has the highest rate of sending people to prison amongst Western European jurisdictions.

Unfortunately, by digging just a little deeper, the story gets much worse. Research from The Prison Reform Trust showed that a massive 26% of the prison population are from Black, Asian, Minority and Ethnic backgrounds (BAME), with the economic cost of this over-representation in the system estimated to be £234 million a year. Also, a joint report between Stop-Watch and Release shows that black people are nine times more likely to be stopped and searched by police, compared to white people. In addition to BAME communities - women and care leavers are also unfairly treated by the criminal justice system in the UK. The impact of incarceration does not merely affect the individual in question but ripples are felt within families, communities and even the economy.

“So what”, some may say “They have committed a crime and deserve punishment!” On one hand prison is a place to supposedly rehabilitate people, but in actual fact it does not do this very well. In 2018/19, the United Kingdom spent £4.56 billion on its prison system. Money well spent, I think not! Many people are released from prison, only to return there shortly after; nearly half of adults (48%) are reconvicted of another offence within one year of release. This statistic alone should be making us question the efficacy of sending people to prison (particularly for minor and non-violent offences).

So why should we consider an alternative? Of course it is paramount that society is safe and that dangerous people should not be allowed to roam free, but at the same time by understanding every persons human experience and truly offering rehabilitation, then untapped potential can be realised in a way that will keep society safe, whilst collectively moving society forward.

From my experience of running a peer-led community initiative, that consisted of staff and volunteers who were recovering from addiction, who had most likely spent time inside, been homeless, suffered mental ill-health and/or were reliant upon state support, ww spent a countless number of hours advocating for and assisting marginalised and vulnerable communities, I would suggest that it is people who are living in poverty and deprivation with a lack of opportunities and confronted by systemic failings who are the ones that are going into prison over and over again.

I believe that the criminal justice system has become a staple intervention for dealing with people suffering from — poor mental health, addiction issues, low levels of education and general economic and social inequality. Rather than being there to help, support, guide, empower and provide meaningful options, instead society places huge volumes of people into an often violent, non-therapeutic and regressive environment. This must change!

Therefore, to really make a difference to modern civilisation, I would recommendations the following -:

*Reduce the prison population and transfer funding from UK prison spend and instead invest in to –:

• Addiction harm reduction services
• Tailored training and employability programmes
• Mental health services
• Housing improvement initiatives
• Social enterprises

*Improve pre and post release support and community integration

*Implement diversionary schemes at the earliest point possible (particularly for first time entrants to the CJS).

*Reform Drug Policy — Regulate the illicit drug market, take this out of the hands of organised crime syndicates and give power back to Government

*Review and update all of the current processes within the criminal justice system — from police, to courts, prisons and probation services

*Meaningfully tackle institutional racism and unconscious bias.

*Increase levels of diversity within criminal justice agencies/partners

*Adopt a systemic approach in tackling social inequality

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qA8OzDlnlU

‘I developed and led a multi-award winning organisation called SUIT for over a decade. SUIT provided advocacy and support across a multitude of areas of need by developing a model that utilised resources, navigated systems, captured outcomes and influenced key strategic decision makers.

I am now operating as an independent consultant, to continue improving policies, systems and most importantly life experiences. To find out more visit — Social Leadership Guy: www.sunnydhadley.com’