[Music] when I found out that I’d be speaking
when I found out that I’d be speaking
when I found out that I’d be speaking here to you today on the topic of
here to you today on the topic of
here to you today on the topic of prisons I was pretty excited and I
prisons I was pretty excited and I
prisons I was pretty excited and I called my mom’s tell her all about my
called my mom’s tell her all about my
called my mom’s tell her all about my plan to speak about the social injustice
plan to speak about the social injustice
plan to speak about the social injustice of our prison system and her response
of our prison system and her response
of our prison system and her response was slightly less enthusiastic than I’d
was slightly less enthusiastic than I’d
was slightly less enthusiastic than I’d expected
expected
expected she said most people probably won’t
she said most people probably won’t
she said most people probably won’t listen to that kind of talk because for
listen to that kind of talk because for
listen to that kind of talk because for most of us prison is so far removed from
most of us prison is so far removed from
most of us prison is so far removed from our day-to-day lives that we just don’t
our day-to-day lives that we just don’t
our day-to-day lives that we just don’t care so if you want people to pay
care so if you want people to pay
care so if you want people to pay attention tell us how prison affects all
attention tell us how prison affects all
attention tell us how prison affects all of us as usual she had a point
of us as usual she had a point
of us as usual she had a point so rather than speak to you about the
so rather than speak to you about the
so rather than speak to you about the human rights angle on prison reform
human rights angle on prison reform
human rights angle on prison reform I’ll instead share with you some
I’ll instead share with you some
I’ll instead share with you some information in facts about our prison
information in facts about our prison
information in facts about our prison system so that you can make up your own
system so that you can make up your own
system so that you can make up your own minds about how it’s performing and how
minds about how it’s performing and how
minds about how it’s performing and how it might be able to be improved and
it might be able to be improved and
it might be able to be improved and something I’ll see that prison really is
something I’ll see that prison really is
something I’ll see that prison really is an issue that does affect all of us I’d
an issue that does affect all of us I’d
an issue that does affect all of us I’d like you to imagine that you had a
like you to imagine that you had a
like you to imagine that you had a million pounds to invest and you chose
million pounds to invest and you chose
million pounds to invest and you chose to invest it with me and I lost half of
to invest it with me and I lost half of
to invest it with me and I lost half of it and you had another 1 million pounds
it and you had another 1 million pounds
it and you had another 1 million pounds to invest and you gave it to me again
to invest and you gave it to me again
to invest and you gave it to me again and I lost half not a great investment
and I lost half not a great investment
and I lost half not a great investment strategy but that’s pretty much what
strategy but that’s pretty much what
strategy but that’s pretty much what we’re doing with our prison system
we’re doing with our prison system
we’re doing with our prison system except for the stakes are exponentially
except for the stakes are exponentially
except for the stakes are exponentially higher every year UK taxpayers spend 2.8
higher every year UK taxpayers spend 2.8
higher every year UK taxpayers spend 2.8 billion pounds on prisons thinking that
billion pounds on prisons thinking that
billion pounds on prisons thinking that they’ll lower crime and every year 45%
they’ll lower crime and every year 45%
they’ll lower crime and every year 45% of people leaving prison riaf end and we
of people leaving prison riaf end and we
of people leaving prison riaf end and we continue to do the same thing every year
continue to do the same thing every year
continue to do the same thing every year despite getting the same poor results
despite getting the same poor results
despite getting the same poor results the bottom line is that our prisons are
the bottom line is that our prisons are
the bottom line is that our prisons are highly ineffective and the question that
highly ineffective and the question that
highly ineffective and the question that comes to my mind is haven’t we come up
comes to my mind is haven’t we come up
comes to my mind is haven’t we come up with anything better and if not why not
with anything better and if not why not
with anything better and if not why not to begin answering this question I
to begin answering this question I
to begin answering this question I thought it would be helpful to provide
thought it would be helpful to provide
thought it would be helpful to provide some background information on prisons
some background information on prisons
some background information on prisons where did it come from and who’s in
where did it come from and who’s in
where did it come from and who’s in there as I’m aware that unlike me most
there as I’m aware that unlike me most
there as I’m aware that unlike me most of you probably don’t Google prison
of you probably don’t Google prison
of you probably don’t Google prison every day
well may seem like prisons have been
well may seem like prisons have been around for a very long time they’re
around for a very long time they’re
around for a very long time they’re actually a pretty new concept the
actually a pretty new concept the
actually a pretty new concept the establishment of the modern-day prison a
establishment of the modern-day prison a
establishment of the modern-day prison a secure criminal rehabilitation center is
secure criminal rehabilitation center is
secure criminal rehabilitation center is only two centuries old from the 1800s
only two centuries old from the 1800s
only two centuries old from the 1800s although the theory underpinning these
although the theory underpinning these
although the theory underpinning these prisons is much older dating back to a
prisons is much older dating back to a
prisons is much older dating back to a two thousand five hundred year old
two thousand five hundred year old
two thousand five hundred year old premise from Plato that we could both
premise from Plato that we could both
premise from Plato that we could both punish and reform at the same time when
punish and reform at the same time when
punish and reform at the same time when you think about it the notion that you
you think about it the notion that you
you think about it the notion that you can both punish and reform at the same
can both punish and reform at the same
can both punish and reform at the same time is slightly contradictory it’s like
time is slightly contradictory it’s like
time is slightly contradictory it’s like the classic carrot and stick argument
the classic carrot and stick argument
the classic carrot and stick argument except suggesting that you can give
except suggesting that you can give
except suggesting that you can give people both the carrot and the stick
people both the carrot and the stick
people both the carrot and the stick together and she’d the same results so
together and she’d the same results so
together and she’d the same results so it’s not too surprising that almost
it’s not too surprising that almost
it’s not too surprising that almost immediately after the first prisons were
immediately after the first prisons were
immediately after the first prisons were created to both punish and reform
created to both punish and reform
created to both punish and reform prisoners a debate broke out among the
prisoners a debate broke out among the
prisoners a debate broke out among the general public about what was the right
general public about what was the right
general public about what was the right balance the pro punishment group argued
balance the pro punishment group argued
balance the pro punishment group argued that prisons were too soft they should
that prisons were too soft they should
that prisons were too soft they should be harsher to punish prisoners for
be harsher to punish prisoners for
be harsher to punish prisoners for wrongdoing for breaking the law for
wrongdoing for breaking the law for
wrongdoing for breaking the law for harming victims and deter them from
harming victims and deter them from
harming victims and deter them from committing future crimes scare them
committing future crimes scare them
committing future crimes scare them straight prisons should punish more the
straight prisons should punish more the
straight prisons should punish more the pro-reform group argued the opposite
pro-reform group argued the opposite
pro-reform group argued the opposite prisons are too harsh it’s enough of a
prisons are too harsh it’s enough of a
prisons are too harsh it’s enough of a punishment to lose your freedom and be
punishment to lose your freedom and be
punishment to lose your freedom and be separated from society beyond that
separated from society beyond that
separated from society beyond that prisons should be humane institutions of
prisons should be humane institutions of
prisons should be humane institutions of moral instruction and rehabilitation and
moral instruction and rehabilitation and
moral instruction and rehabilitation and should correct the behavior of prisoners
should correct the behavior of prisoners
should correct the behavior of prisoners so that once released maybe model
so that once released maybe model
so that once released maybe model citizens prisons should reform more it’s
citizens prisons should reform more it’s
citizens prisons should reform more it’s been nearly 200 years yet as you can see
been nearly 200 years yet as you can see
been nearly 200 years yet as you can see from these recent newspaper headlines
from these recent newspaper headlines
from these recent newspaper headlines the debate on whether prisons should
the debate on whether prisons should
the debate on whether prisons should punish more or reformed war really
punish more or reformed war really
punish more or reformed war really hasn’t changed that much what has
hasn’t changed that much what has
hasn’t changed that much what has changed is who’s in our prisons today
changed is who’s in our prisons today
changed is who’s in our prisons today there are about 85,000 prisoners in the
there are about 85,000 prisoners in the
there are about 85,000 prisoners in the UK one in three of them is under the age
UK one in three of them is under the age
UK one in three of them is under the age of 30
one-in-six is over fifty and one in 35
one-in-six is over fifty and one in 35 is a veteran if you imagined yourself
is a veteran if you imagined yourself
is a veteran if you imagined yourself walking into a prison into a wing that
walking into a prison into a wing that
walking into a prison into a wing that had exactly 100 prisoners who
had exactly 100 prisoners who
had exactly 100 prisoners who represented the national averages you’d
represented the national averages you’d
represented the national averages you’d find that 11 of those prisoners are on
find that 11 of those prisoners are on
find that 11 of those prisoners are on remand meaning that they haven’t been
remand meaning that they haven’t been
remand meaning that they haven’t been convicted of a crime and are awaiting
convicted of a crime and are awaiting
convicted of a crime and are awaiting trial
trial
trial the majority 54 are there for a
the majority 54 are there for a
the majority 54 are there for a non-violent offense like theft or drugs
non-violent offense like theft or drugs
non-violent offense like theft or drugs 15 have committed a violent offense and
15 have committed a violent offense and
15 have committed a violent offense and 5 are in for sexual crime it’s also
5 are in for sexual crime it’s also
5 are in for sexual crime it’s also possible that a few of these prisoners
possible that a few of these prisoners
possible that a few of these prisoners are innocent I’m aware I just presented
are innocent I’m aware I just presented
are innocent I’m aware I just presented quite a few numbers so if you only
quite a few numbers so if you only
quite a few numbers so if you only remember one from this entire talk I
remember one from this entire talk I
remember one from this entire talk I hope it’s this next one there nearly
hope it’s this next one there nearly
hope it’s this next one there nearly every prisoner 99.9 percent of them will
every prisoner 99.9 percent of them will
every prisoner 99.9 percent of them will be released at the end of their sentence
be released at the end of their sentence
be released at the end of their sentence and we’ll come back to society of the
and we’ll come back to society of the
and we’ll come back to society of the entire UK prison population there are
entire UK prison population there are
entire UK prison population there are only 59 prisoners serving whole life
only 59 prisoners serving whole life
only 59 prisoners serving whole life sentences the remainder of the 85,000
sentences the remainder of the 85,000
sentences the remainder of the 85,000 prisoners will be released and we’ll
prisoners will be released and we’ll
prisoners will be released and we’ll come back to society so the question
come back to society so the question
come back to society so the question that that leaves us with is what kind of
that that leaves us with is what kind of
that that leaves us with is what kind of prison experience do we want prisoners
prison experience do we want prisoners
prison experience do we want prisoners have given that they will be coming back
have given that they will be coming back
have given that they will be coming back home to what extent should prisons focus
home to what extent should prisons focus
home to what extent should prisons focus on punishing or reforming rather than
on punishing or reforming rather than
on punishing or reforming rather than give you more statistics I’d like to
give you more statistics I’d like to
give you more statistics I’d like to share with you a story about a prison
share with you a story about a prison
share with you a story about a prison that punishes and a prison that reforms
that punishes and a prison that reforms
that punishes and a prison that reforms through the true life experience of a
through the true life experience of a
through the true life experience of a man named Noah and while Knoll is just
man named Noah and while Knoll is just
man named Noah and while Knoll is just one person his story is reflective of
one person his story is reflective of
one person his story is reflective of that of many people I’ve met over the
that of many people I’ve met over the
that of many people I’ve met over the past decade who spent time in prisons
past decade who spent time in prisons
past decade who spent time in prisons Knoll is a Londoner born in the 1960s at
Knoll is a Londoner born in the 1960s at
Knoll is a Londoner born in the 1960s at the age of 14 while skipping school with
the age of 14 while skipping school with
the age of 14 while skipping school with a friend Noah was picked up by the
a friend Noah was picked up by the
a friend Noah was picked up by the burglary squad and despite not having
burglary squad and despite not having
burglary squad and despite not having done anything wrong he was beaten that
done anything wrong he was beaten that
done anything wrong he was beaten that by them Noah says that his anger at this
by them Noah says that his anger at this
by them Noah says that his anger at this injustice led him to throw himself into
injustice led him to throw himself into
injustice led him to throw himself into crime into an all-out war
crime into an all-out war
crime into an all-out war resulted in him spending much of his
resulted in him spending much of his
resulted in him spending much of his adult life locked up behind bars in a
adult life locked up behind bars in a
adult life locked up behind bars in a series of UK prisons
series of UK prisons
series of UK prisons I spoke to know about his prison
I spoke to know about his prison
I spoke to know about his prison experience what was it like what did
experience what was it like what did
experience what was it like what did prison do for him at first no said he
prison do for him at first no said he
prison do for him at first no said he was sent to prisons like Wandsworth
was sent to prisons like Wandsworth
was sent to prisons like Wandsworth where the main focus was on punishment
where the main focus was on punishment
where the main focus was on punishment deterrence making prisoners suffer and
deterrence making prisoners suffer and
deterrence making prisoners suffer and feel remorse through shame and pain Noll
feel remorse through shame and pain Noll
feel remorse through shame and pain Noll said that I want worth the first thing
said that I want worth the first thing
said that I want worth the first thing that he noticed was that as soon as he
that he noticed was that as soon as he
that he noticed was that as soon as he entered he was treated like property
entered he was treated like property
entered he was treated like property commodity stripped of everything that he
commodity stripped of everything that he
commodity stripped of everything that he owned including his first name from then
owned including his first name from then
owned including his first name from then on he was known by his prisoner number
on he was known by his prisoner number
on he was known by his prisoner number and sometimes by his last name at
and sometimes by his last name at
and sometimes by his last name at Wandsworth he said prisoners were only
Wandsworth he said prisoners were only
Wandsworth he said prisoners were only allowed to shower once a week they’d get
allowed to shower once a week they’d get
allowed to shower once a week they’d get a change of underwear every two weeks
a change of underwear every two weeks
a change of underwear every two weeks and they were locked into their cells
and they were locked into their cells
and they were locked into their cells for 23 hours a day with one hour of gym
for 23 hours a day with one hour of gym
for 23 hours a day with one hour of gym access which was denied liberally at the
access which was denied liberally at the
access which was denied liberally at the discretion of prison staff as a result
discretion of prison staff as a result
discretion of prison staff as a result no had plenty of time to self-reflect
no had plenty of time to self-reflect
no had plenty of time to self-reflect and he spent it focusing on his hatred
and he spent it focusing on his hatred
and he spent it focusing on his hatred for authority and Wandsworth the prison
for authority and Wandsworth the prison
for authority and Wandsworth the prison staff and prisoners treated each other
staff and prisoners treated each other
staff and prisoners treated each other with contempt and hostility and the
with contempt and hostility and the
with contempt and hostility and the language used in this prison was
language used in this prison was
language used in this prison was animalistic mealtime was referred to as
animalistic mealtime was referred to as
animalistic mealtime was referred to as feeding time and the prison staff used
feeding time and the prison staff used
feeding time and the prison staff used to say that happiness was door shaped it
to say that happiness was door shaped it
to say that happiness was door shaped it would come when prisoners were locked up
would come when prisoners were locked up
would come when prisoners were locked up at Wandsworth there was no education or
at Wandsworth there was no education or
at Wandsworth there was no education or encouragement no referred to the
encouragement no referred to the
encouragement no referred to the experience as boring with periods of
experience as boring with periods of
experience as boring with periods of brutality a waste of space I hate
brutality a waste of space I hate
brutality a waste of space I hate Factory and a place where you could
Factory and a place where you could
Factory and a place where you could enter unable to read or write and leave
enter unable to read or write and leave
enter unable to read or write and leave two decades later still unable to read
two decades later still unable to read
two decades later still unable to read or write
or write
or write I asked Noah what happened when he left
I asked Noah what happened when he left
I asked Noah what happened when he left Wandsworth did the harsh approach work
Wandsworth did the harsh approach work
Wandsworth did the harsh approach work Noah said that Wandsworth was horrible
Noah said that Wandsworth was horrible
Noah said that Wandsworth was horrible he never wanted to go back but he and
he never wanted to go back but he and
he never wanted to go back but he and his fellow prisoners left Wandsworth
his fellow prisoners left Wandsworth
his fellow prisoners left Wandsworth bitter and resentful without practical
bitter and resentful without practical
bitter and resentful without practical life skills for how to support
life skills for how to support
life skills for how to support themselves legally in the community and
themselves legally in the community and
themselves legally in the community and the more he faced challenges like trying
the more he faced challenges like trying
the more he faced challenges like trying to get a job or find housing the angrier
to get a job or find housing the angrier
to get a job or find housing the angrier more bitter he became and the more he
more bitter he became and the more he
more bitter he became and the more he wanted payback against the authority
wanted payback against the authority
wanted payback against the authority system and the people who had treated
system and the people who had treated
system and the people who had treated him so poorly in addition although it
him so poorly in addition although it
him so poorly in addition although it does sound cliche Knoll said that prison
does sound cliche Knoll said that prison
does sound cliche Knoll said that prison taught him how to be a better criminal
taught him how to be a better criminal
taught him how to be a better criminal at one prison he learned how to get a
at one prison he learned how to get a
at one prison he learned how to get a gun which facilitated his career as a
gun which facilitated his career as a
gun which facilitated his career as a bank robber and he went on to commit
bank robber and he went on to commit
bank robber and he went on to commit over 200 bank robberies and he spent
over 200 bank robberies and he spent
over 200 bank robberies and he spent time and many more UK prisons each of
time and many more UK prisons each of
time and many more UK prisons each of which had a similar focus on punishment
which had a similar focus on punishment
which had a similar focus on punishment all of this changed however when Noah
all of this changed however when Noah
all of this changed however when Noah was sent in the early 2000s to Grendon
was sent in the early 2000s to Grendon
was sent in the early 2000s to Grendon prison
prison
prison Glendon is unique as the only UK prison
Glendon is unique as the only UK prison
Glendon is unique as the only UK prison with the sole focus of reform ensuring
with the sole focus of reform ensuring
with the sole focus of reform ensuring that prisoners receive the education
that prisoners receive the education
that prisoners receive the education training and stimulation to promote
training and stimulation to promote
training and stimulation to promote their successful reintegration back into
their successful reintegration back into
their successful reintegration back into society
society
society Grandin operates on the principle of
Grandin operates on the principle of
Grandin operates on the principle of normality life on the inside of the
normality life on the inside of the
normality life on the inside of the prison reflects life on the outside and
prison reflects life on the outside and
prison reflects life on the outside and prisoners are treated as people with the
prisoners are treated as people with the
prisoners are treated as people with the future potential to contribute at
future potential to contribute at
future potential to contribute at grenzen Noah said that he was listened
grenzen Noah said that he was listened
grenzen Noah said that he was listened to and made to feel safe the prison
to and made to feel safe the prison
to and made to feel safe the prison staff treated him with respect and not
staff treated him with respect and not
staff treated him with respect and not only asked him for his first name but
only asked him for his first name but
only asked him for his first name but told him there’s as well and Brendan
told him there’s as well and Brendan
told him there’s as well and Brendan will spent 10 hours each day in
will spent 10 hours each day in
will spent 10 hours each day in education work or therapy rather than
education work or therapy rather than
education work or therapy rather than use his mental energy focusing on his
use his mental energy focusing on his
use his mental energy focusing on his hatred for the authority system he spent
hatred for the authority system he spent
hatred for the authority system he spent it working on his problems rebuilding
it working on his problems rebuilding
it working on his problems rebuilding relationships with his family and
relationships with his family and
relationships with his family and getting ready to make the significant
getting ready to make the significant
getting ready to make the significant life changes necessary in his life to
life changes necessary in his life to
life changes necessary in his life to ensure that he live a positive life once
ensure that he live a positive life once
ensure that he live a positive life once released and not recreate the same
released and not recreate the same
released and not recreate the same mistakes of his past when Noah left
mistakes of his past when Noah left
mistakes of his past when Noah left Brendan instead of leaving bitter he
Brendan instead of leaving bitter he
Brendan instead of leaving bitter he left with hope he felt that he had a
left with hope he felt that he had a
left with hope he felt that he had a chance and not only did he not riaf end
chance and not only did he not riaf end
chance and not only did he not riaf end but he went on to become the editor of a
but he went on to become the editor of a
but he went on to become the editor of a national newspaper and write six books
national newspaper and write six books
national newspaper and write six books he pays taxes now and contributes
he pays taxes now and contributes
he pays taxes now and contributes positively to our society the same as do
positively to our society the same as do
positively to our society the same as do you and I and when I asked know about
you and I and when I asked know about
you and I and when I asked know about Brendan he credits it with giving him
Brendan he credits it with giving him
Brendan he credits it with giving him the chance to change and turn his life
the chance to change and turn his life
the chance to change and turn his life around
so what was the better option in which
so what was the better option in which of these two cases would you be more
of these two cases would you be more
of these two cases would you be more comfortable with someone like Noll
comfortable with someone like Noll
comfortable with someone like Noll leaving prison and coming back to
leaving prison and coming back to
leaving prison and coming back to society as your friend colleague
society as your friend colleague
society as your friend colleague classmate neighbor or employee
Wandsworth offers society and almost
Wandsworth offers society and almost satisfying vengeance and harshly
satisfying vengeance and harshly
satisfying vengeance and harshly punishing Noll for breaking the law and
punishing Noll for breaking the law and
punishing Noll for breaking the law and harming victims but Noll also left
harming victims but Noll also left
harming victims but Noll also left Wandsworth bitter and resentful without
Wandsworth bitter and resentful without
Wandsworth bitter and resentful without practical life skills or knowledge on
practical life skills or knowledge on
practical life skills or knowledge on how to break the cycle of crime Grendon
how to break the cycle of crime Grendon
how to break the cycle of crime Grendon on the other hand offers conditions but
on the other hand offers conditions but
on the other hand offers conditions but some people would say are too good for
some people would say are too good for
some people would say are too good for perpetrators of crime they’re not harsh
perpetrators of crime they’re not harsh
perpetrators of crime they’re not harsh enough but think of it this way
enough but think of it this way
enough but think of it this way no left Grendon with real potential to
no left Grendon with real potential to
no left Grendon with real potential to live a positive life on the outside real
live a positive life on the outside real
live a positive life on the outside real potential to live a law-abiding life
potential to live a law-abiding life
potential to live a law-abiding life real potential to pay taxes all of which
real potential to pay taxes all of which
real potential to pay taxes all of which indirectly contribute to your own
indirectly contribute to your own
indirectly contribute to your own well-being through lower crime and lower
well-being through lower crime and lower
well-being through lower crime and lower tax some of you may be thinking that
tax some of you may be thinking that
tax some of you may be thinking that this story was nice but surely if we
this story was nice but surely if we
this story was nice but surely if we look at the numbers they’ll show that a
look at the numbers they’ll show that a
look at the numbers they’ll show that a prison model based on punishment is more
prison model based on punishment is more
prison model based on punishment is more effective at deterring crime so let’s
effective at deterring crime so let’s
effective at deterring crime so let’s look at the statistics they show that
look at the statistics they show that
look at the statistics they show that for prisoners serving comparable
for prisoners serving comparable
for prisoners serving comparable sentences the reoffending rate at
sentences the reoffending rate at
sentences the reoffending rate at Grendon is 8% relative to 24% elsewhere
Grendon is 8% relative to 24% elsewhere
Grendon is 8% relative to 24% elsewhere moreover the research shows that
moreover the research shows that
moreover the research shows that prisoners who participate in prison
prisoners who participate in prison
prisoners who participate in prison based rehabilitative programming have
based rehabilitative programming have
based rehabilitative programming have much lower reoffending rates those who
much lower reoffending rates those who
much lower reoffending rates those who receive drug rehabilitation programming
receive drug rehabilitation programming
receive drug rehabilitation programming in prison have a reoffending rate of 31%
in prison have a reoffending rate of 31%
in prison have a reoffending rate of 31% education in prison 19% and vocational
education in prison 19% and vocational
education in prison 19% and vocational training 17% the same findings apply
training 17% the same findings apply
training 17% the same findings apply outside of the UK as well if we look at
outside of the UK as well if we look at
outside of the UK as well if we look at the United States a country that’s known
the United States a country that’s known
the United States a country that’s known for its prison system which focuses on
for its prison system which focuses on
for its prison system which focuses on punishment and Norway which is well
punishment and Norway which is well
punishment and Norway which is well known for a prison system focusing on
known for a prison system focusing on
known for a prison system focusing on reform we see that the 2-year me
reform we see that the 2-year me
reform we see that the 2-year me conviction rate for prisoners leaving
conviction rate for prisoners leaving
conviction rate for prisoners leaving American prisons
American prisons
American prisons is 36% and it’s 20% in Norway
is 36% and it’s 20% in Norway
is 36% and it’s 20% in Norway that’s nearly 50% lower when the prison
that’s nearly 50% lower when the prison
that’s nearly 50% lower when the prison seeks to reform and it’s not like the
seeks to reform and it’s not like the
seeks to reform and it’s not like the reformed prison system is not much more
reformed prison system is not much more
reformed prison system is not much more expensive either
expensive either
expensive either today the annual cost of housing one
today the annual cost of housing one
today the annual cost of housing one prisoner for one year is 43,000 pounds
prisoner for one year is 43,000 pounds
prisoner for one year is 43,000 pounds of Grendon and 32,000 pounds at
of Grendon and 32,000 pounds at
of Grendon and 32,000 pounds at Wandsworth and the difference pays for
Wandsworth and the difference pays for
Wandsworth and the difference pays for itself pretty quickly with the lower
itself pretty quickly with the lower
itself pretty quickly with the lower reoffending rate so remember your
reoffending rate so remember your
reoffending rate so remember your original 1 million pound investment
original 1 million pound investment
original 1 million pound investment where would you rather put it what I’m
where would you rather put it what I’m
where would you rather put it what I’m trying to share is that some prisoners
trying to share is that some prisoners
trying to share is that some prisoners will reoffending on everyone will leave
will reoffending on everyone will leave
will reoffending on everyone will leave a reformed prison as a model citizen but
a reformed prison as a model citizen but
a reformed prison as a model citizen but the majority of prisoners will be
the majority of prisoners will be
the majority of prisoners will be released from prison and will come back
released from prison and will come back
released from prison and will come back to society and they are people who if
to society and they are people who if
to society and they are people who if given the right interventions can be
given the right interventions can be
given the right interventions can be productive citizens the evidence clearly
productive citizens the evidence clearly
productive citizens the evidence clearly shows us the prisons that reform or make
shows us the prisons that reform or make
shows us the prisons that reform or make common sense and financial sense and yet
common sense and financial sense and yet
common sense and financial sense and yet despite all that knowledge we continue
despite all that knowledge we continue
despite all that knowledge we continue to debate whether our prison system
to debate whether our prison system
to debate whether our prison system should punish more or reform more and
should punish more or reform more and
should punish more or reform more and for people like me who interact
for people like me who interact
for people like me who interact regularly with the prison system this is
regularly with the prison system this is
regularly with the prison system this is exceptionally frustrating and I ask
exceptionally frustrating and I ask
exceptionally frustrating and I ask myself the question given everything
myself the question given everything
myself the question given everything that we know why is this so hard it
that we know why is this so hard it
that we know why is this so hard it could be because when somebody breaks
could be because when somebody breaks
could be because when somebody breaks the law and harms another person or harm
the law and harms another person or harm
the law and harms another person or harm Society most of us feel anger and want
Society most of us feel anger and want
Society most of us feel anger and want vengeance and I would feel the same way
vengeance and I would feel the same way
vengeance and I would feel the same way if someone hurt me or my family and
if someone hurt me or my family and
if someone hurt me or my family and those emotions can get in the way of
those emotions can get in the way of
those emotions can get in the way of logic or maybe it’s because many of us
logic or maybe it’s because many of us
logic or maybe it’s because many of us just haven’t thought that much about
just haven’t thought that much about
just haven’t thought that much about this issue it has it seems pressing or
this issue it has it seems pressing or
this issue it has it seems pressing or important enough to us or we haven’t had
important enough to us or we haven’t had
important enough to us or we haven’t had the right information and so we just
the right information and so we just
the right information and so we just stuck with the status quo for 200 years
stuck with the status quo for 200 years
stuck with the status quo for 200 years but I hope what we’ve learned is that we
but I hope what we’ve learned is that we
but I hope what we’ve learned is that we can’t have both punishment and reform in
can’t have both punishment and reform in
can’t have both punishment and reform in a prison it doesn’t work so as a society
a prison it doesn’t work so as a society
a prison it doesn’t work so as a society we have to choose one or the other
we have to choose one or the other
we have to choose one or the other because
because
because doesn’t make sense to keep rehashing the
doesn’t make sense to keep rehashing the
doesn’t make sense to keep rehashing the same debate punished or a forum keep
same debate punished or a forum keep
same debate punished or a forum keep wasting billions on an ineffective
wasting billions on an ineffective
wasting billions on an ineffective prison system and keep advocating for
prison system and keep advocating for
prison system and keep advocating for harsher punishments that we think will
harsher punishments that we think will
harsher punishments that we think will deter crime but have actually been
deter crime but have actually been
deter crime but have actually been proven to decrease our safety so here
proven to decrease our safety so here
proven to decrease our safety so here are the three questions I’d like to
are the three questions I’d like to
are the three questions I’d like to leave you with as a society are we ready
leave you with as a society are we ready
leave you with as a society are we ready to accept that being tough on crime
to accept that being tough on crime
to accept that being tough on crime through harsher punishments and prisons
through harsher punishments and prisons
through harsher punishments and prisons that focus on punishment has the
that focus on punishment has the
that focus on punishment has the unintended consequence of being tougher
unintended consequence of being tougher
unintended consequence of being tougher for all of us for the collective good
for all of us for the collective good
for all of us for the collective good are we ready to give up our desire for
are we ready to give up our desire for
are we ready to give up our desire for prisons that punish in favor of Prisons
prisons that punish in favor of Prisons
prisons that punish in favor of Prisons that reform are we ready
that reform are we ready
that reform are we ready to build a reformed prison system that
to build a reformed prison system that
to build a reformed prison system that is the benchmark for the rest of the
is the benchmark for the rest of the
is the benchmark for the rest of the world in effectively reducing
world in effectively reducing
world in effectively reducing reoffending I think we’re ready
reoffending I think we’re ready
reoffending I think we’re ready so let’s upgrade the standards of our
so let’s upgrade the standards of our
so let’s upgrade the standards of our prison system to a 21st century model
prison system to a 21st century model
prison system to a 21st century model for reforming people who’ve committed
for reforming people who’ve committed
for reforming people who’ve committed crime rather than stagnate with the
crime rather than stagnate with the
crime rather than stagnate with the 2,500 year olds platonic concept thank
2,500 year olds platonic concept thank
2,500 year olds platonic concept thank you
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