Thursday 2 May 2013

Kazuri response to recent announcement by Justice Secretary


Kazuri response to Chris Grayling statement on tougher prison terms for male prisoners


Mr Grayling's recent "getting tough on prisoners" talk makes one wonder whether he has read NOMS commissioning statement 2013 -14.  It reads that reform in the prison system will come about by pro social modelling, rewarding good behavior and evidenced based commissioning.  A copy can be downloaded here.  Perhaps Mr Grayling might like to read it.
http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/about/noms/commissioning-intentions-2013-14-oct12.pdf

It goes on to read that interventions which replicate tough boot camp and authoritarian approaches have no impact on reducing re-offending. All this tough talk about uniforms for the first 2 weeks inside and revised incentive and earned privileges is already in place in the male prison estate.  Most male prisons do have uniforms, recycled saggy bottom sweatpants and worn out T shirts which further degrade and add misery, adding to the shame and misery some unenlightened parts of our society appear to revel in dispensing.  Prison, separation from community and family,  that is the punishment, the rest is about grabbing headlines and brownie points by a government which has alienated the electorate with its punitive policy on those deemed most vulnerable, the poor,  the disabled,  the prisoners. There is a perverse jailer's mentality coming through the rhetoric of punishment and no rehabilitation. Recent proposals to snatch legal representation from serving prisoners in cases against the prison system have a bully boy vindictiveness about them.  We expect justice not  cruelty from our minister.
Furthermore, this dissemination of misinformation such as the amounts spent on prison gym equipment as reported in the Daily Telegraph environment incurred the shock horror of Priti Patel MP, who might like to sort out her own family's dubious politics, are disingenuous and attention seeking. Prison officers use prison gyms.


International law obliges the UK government to provide courses, training and rehabilitation for prisoners of a prison population of 86 000 there are 20 000 places for educational,  employment or training. Money might be better spent on increasing these opportunities so prisoners have the option not to watch  TV.


The secretary of staff for justice had a unique opportunity to transform justice,  which is his stated agenda. Instead he appears to be intent on decimating all notion of fairness and probity.  We urge him to look again and provide trans-formative rehabilitation solutions,  and leave aside the rhetoric.



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