The first blog by a British prisoner. Variously described as being "obviously extremely intelligent" (Michael Gove), "the most interesting interview I have ever done" (Michael Portillo), and a "fully paid up member of the awkward squad" (Parole Board), I try to generate debate around the moral and political nexus that is imprisonment. Imprisoned between ages 14 to 47, released on Licence in August 2012
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Here's a Thing...
There is not a single jot of evidence that shows that long term imprisonment causes lasting psychological damage. Hmmm.
If long-term imprisonment did not cause psychological change it would have had no effect at all. The problem is to determine which changes are beneficial and which ones should be described as damage.
research by sapsford on british prisoners showed no deterioration in cognitive functioning, emotional capacity or social skills. But that doesnt mean it has no effect at all, only no obvious damage.
Sapsford is interesting, but how can you explain the fact that men are kept inside until their supposed risk of offending has fallen to a safe level, possibly below that of the general population - something has changed, surely?
Ben is a lifer inside, I am a lifer outside. I think it possible that we may know things that are unknown to criminologists, or are perhaps unpalatable to people who have chosen to work among prisoners.
Research by such as Sapsford can be criticised in various ways: how many cases did they study, did they measure even one man before he was first sent to prison (or to a mental institution), over what period of years was their research done, what exactly did they attempt to measure, etc?
The Victorian reformers gave each prisoner what they thought was the minimum space a person needed, a 6x12ft cell. If I remember rightly, they considered four years to be the maximum sentence a man could stand. At the height of the politically induced prison crowding in the 1990s four prisoners, their bunks and a slop-bucket were squeezed into some of these Victorian cells.
Prison conditions have improved, but the prison experience remains one of living in a very limited, repressive, repetitive environment. If you think a prisoner can spend up to thirty years in such conditions without developing 'bars inside the head' you really ought to try the experience for yourself.
Ben is a great fighter, and you know a fighter by his scars.
Interesting and thought provoking
ReplyDeleteIs that because research has been done and couldn't find any, or because research hasn't been done?
ReplyDeleteWigarse: I think Ben is challenging that observation. There is quite a bit of research indicating that it is harmful.
ReplyDeleteIf long-term imprisonment did not cause psychological change it would have had no effect at all. The problem is to determine which changes are beneficial and which ones should be described as damage.
ReplyDeleteresearch by sapsford on british prisoners showed no deterioration in cognitive functioning, emotional capacity or social skills. But that doesnt mean it has no effect at all, only no obvious damage.
ReplyDeleteSapsford is interesting, but how can you explain the fact that men are kept inside until their supposed risk of offending has fallen to a safe level, possibly below that of the general population - something has changed, surely?
ReplyDeletewhile there is psychological change, this is not deterioration- which seemed to be prisonerben's claim.
ReplyDeleteBen is a lifer inside, I am a lifer outside. I think it possible that we may know things that are unknown to criminologists, or are perhaps unpalatable to people who have chosen to work among prisoners.
ReplyDeleteResearch by such as Sapsford can be criticised in various ways: how many cases did they study, did they measure even one man before he was first sent to prison (or to a mental institution), over what period of years was their research done, what exactly did they attempt to measure, etc?
The Victorian reformers gave each prisoner what they thought was the minimum space a person needed, a 6x12ft cell. If I remember rightly, they considered four years to be the maximum sentence a man could stand. At the height of the politically induced prison crowding in the 1990s four prisoners, their bunks and a slop-bucket were squeezed into some of these Victorian cells.
Prison conditions have improved, but the prison experience remains one of living in a very limited, repressive, repetitive environment. If you think a prisoner can spend up to thirty years in such conditions without developing 'bars inside the head' you really ought to try the experience for yourself.
Ben is a great fighter, and you know a fighter by his scars.