A Race to the bottom – Prison Education and the English and Welsh Policy Context

This article examines prison education in England and Wales arguing that a disjuncture exists between the policy rhetoric of entitlement to education in prison at the European level and the playing out of that entitlement in English and Welsh prisons. Caught between conflicting discourses around a need to combat recidivism and a need for incarceration, prison education in England exists within a policy context informed, in part, by an international human rights agenda on the one hand and global recession, financial cutbacks, and a moral panic about crime on the other. The European Commission has highlighted a number of challenges facing prison education in Europe including over‐crowded institutions, increasing diversity in prison populations, the need to keep pace with pedagogical changes in mainstream education and the adoption of new technologies for learning (Hawley et al., 2013). These are challenges confronting all policy makers involved in prison education in England and Wales in a policy context that is messy, contradictory and fiercely contested. The article argues that this policy context, exacerbated by socio‐economic discourses around neo‐liberalism, is leading to a race‐to‐the‐bottom in the standards of educational provision for prisoners in England and Wales.

"Pitää kuitenkin lähentyä sitä vangin roolia, vaikka ite ois toista mieltä" : Diskurssianalyyttinen tutkimus toiseuden rakentumisesta vankilaopetuksessa

The focus of this discourse analytical study was to review the meanings which prison education and its participants are given in the formal educational policy and to find out whether these meanings are agreed by the prison students. The intrestes of this thesis were to examine what kind of social and individual promises are related to the prison education and what kind of subject positions are possible to the prison students. The thesis was also interested in the meanings of education in different contexts. The aim of this study was to examine prison education especially for women. This thesis was based on Michel Foucault s ideas of power and the view of this study was directly critical. The prison education was seen as normalizing governance which tends to prepare its subjects to the normal. In this process of differentiating the normal and the abnormal the subjects of prison education are reconstructed as the others . The three research questions of this thesis were: how and what kind of prison education is reconstructed firstly in the strategy of prison education and secondly in the interviews. Thirdly it was questioned how and what kind of meanings gender receive in the discourse of prison education. The main data was consisted by the Finnish Criminal Sanctions Agency s document The Strategy of the Prison education for years 2008 2012 and the three interviews of women who participated to prison education. The interviews were made for this thesis in Autumn 2010. Two other Finnish Criminal Sanctions Agency s documents Prisoners in education (2007) and Visible women (2008) - the report of the working group on female prisoners were also used as subtext materials. The methods of critical and realistic discourse analysis and rhetorical analysis were applied in the analysis. The results of the thesis support the outlook of prison education as a form of normalizing governance which reconstruct the others position for the prison students. Prison education was seen supportive for personal life control and for integrating to the society. The participants of prison education repeated the official discourses in their accounts which is a signal of internalized governance. The interviewees also used different types of anti-discourses when forming implications of prison education.

Reincidentes da Penitenciária de Benguela: prisão e história em Angola.

Este trabalho é resultado de uma pesquisa realizada com sujeitos jovens e adultos privados de liberdade, reincidentes, com pelo menos metade da pena cumprida na Penitenciária de Benguela/Angola. Teve como foco a compreensão do sentido atribuído por esses sujeitos à experiência de ser preso reincidente, percebendo como experienciam o programa de reeducação do sistema prisional local. Os fundamentos teóricos da investigação basearam-se em autores que discutem a realidade da prisão; o direito à educação de pessoas em espaços de privação de liberdade; e a situação histórica de Angola, marcada pela longa guerra civil, após a Independência que a livrou do colonialismo do governo português, por tantos anos. Autores angolanos contribuíram para o desvelamento dessa condição histórica, e vários brasileiros foram fundamentais para compreender a temática relativa à prisão. O tema tornou-se relevante entre pesquisadores na academia brasileira, provocados em grande parte por acordos internacionais sobre direitos humanos e, especialmente, sobre o direito à educação de pessoas jovens e adultas em espaços de privação de liberdade. O balizamento brasileiro e internacional serviu para avaliar como o Estado angolano se porta diante desse direito, e de que forma atende (ou não) o preceituado nas prisões angolanas, sendo signatário de acordos internacionais. A investigação pode ser considerada um estudo de caso qualitativo, cuja recolha de informações utilizou observação, entrevistas e questionários que geraram dados quantitativos. Estes resultaram de questionários aplicados a dez reeducadores dos serviços prisionais e a 26 reclusos reincidentes, entre os quais 23 do sexo masculino e três do sexo feminino, todos não identificados. As entrevistas realizadas se fizeram desde o diretor da instituição penal ao responsável provincial da reeducação; ouviram o responsável pela área de segurança do presídio, um advogado de presos e a mãe de um dos reclusos reincidentes. Problemas de ordem política, econômica, social, assim como o fator guerra que acompanhou toda a história de Angola (1975-2002) contribuíram, em grande parte, para que os sujeitos especialmente jovens cometessem delitos e sofressem a privação da liberdade. No dizer dos sujeitos, a expectativa de mudança de vida se põe na volta à escola e no aprendizado de uma profissão no que depositam esperanças de que a cadeia possa contribuir, para que a sociedade os discrimine menos, porque egressos do sistema penitenciário de Angola.

Le travail d'enseignant en milieu carcéral

Jusqu’à maintenant, la prison a surtout été analysée à partir du point de vue des détenus et celui des surveillants comme si le vécu de l’enfermement et la relation détenus-surveillants étaient les seuls points de vue permettant d’en apprendre sur ce qu’elle est et d’en saisir le fonctionnement. Nous pensons, pour notre part, que d’autres points de vue sont possibles, voire même souhaitables. C’est le cas, notamment, de celui des enseignants qui exercent leur métier en prison. Bien que théoriquement en mesure d’offrir un complément intéressant aux fonctions de dissuasion et de réinsertion sociale que la prison remplit difficilement à elle seule, le projet éducatif carcéral constitue une activité plus ou moins marginalisée qui est ramenée au niveau des autres activités pénitentiaires. Au premier chef, c’est à la prison que nous sommes tentés d’en imputer la responsabilité et, de fait, elle y est pour quelque chose. D’abord conçue pour neutraliser des criminels, il lui est difficile de les éduquer en même temps. Mais cette marginalisation, nous le verrons, n’est pas le seul fait de la prison. Elle tient aussi beaucoup au mandat qu’ils se donnent et à la façon dont les enseignants se représentent leur travail. S’étant eux-mêmes défini un mandat ambitieux de modelage et de remodelage de la personnalité de leurs élèves délinquants détenus, prérequis, selon eux, à un retour harmonieux dans la collectivité, les enseignants déplorent qu’on ne leur accorde pas toute la crédibilité qui devrait leur revenir. Cette situation est d’autant plus difficile à vivre, qu’à titre de travailleurs contractuels pour la plupart, ils sont déjà, aux yeux du personnel correctionnel, objets d’une méfiance qui sera d’autant plus grande que, pour effectuer leur travail, ils doivent se faire une représentation du délinquant et du délit peu compatibles avec celles qui prévalent dans le milieu. C’est ainsi qu’à la marginalisation comme fait organisationnel se superpose une auto-marginalisation, incontournable, qui est le fait des enseignants eux-mêmes et qui se traduit par leur attitude de réserve à l’égard de la prison. La chose est d’autant plus paradoxale que le mandat que se donnent les enseignants, bien qu’ils s’en gardent de le dire, correspond tout à fait au projet correctionnel. Mais la prison, davantage préoccupée par la gestion du risque que par la réinsertion sociale des détenus, n’a d’intérêt pour l’éducation en milieu carcéral que dans la mesure où elle permet une socialisation à l’idéologie pénitentiaire et contribue à consolider la paix à l’intérieur des murs avec la complicité des enseignants eux-mêmes. Du reste, ces derniers ne sont pas dupes et lui en font grief, encore qu’il soit permis de nous demander si on ne lui reproche pas, plus simplement, de ne pas leur donner toute la place qu’ils croient leur revenir et de les laisser suspendus dans le vide carcéral.

A Educação Penitenciária no Estado de Pernambuco : um olhar sobre o Presídio Professor Aníbal Bruno

Esta dissertação trata da educação penitenciária no Estado de Pernambuco e é resultado de um estudo desenvolvido no Presídio Professor Aníbal Bruno, junto à Escola Professor Joel Pontes, situada no interior da unidade carcerária. Este trabalho discute o papel da educação escolar no processo de ressocialização dos apenados. O ciclo de investigação ocorreu mediante: pesquisa bibliográfica, exame da legislação internacional e nacional, que trata da escolarização para pessoas em situação de privação de liberdade, e por meio do contato com a realidade educacional e prisional do estabelecimento penal selecionado. Nesta investigação, utilizamos à abordagem quantitativa e qualitativa. Com relação aos instrumentos que foram realizados nesse estudo, adotamos o questionário e a entrevista. Quanto ao questionário este foi aplicado aos detentos, já a entrevista foi realizada junto aos docentes. Através de tais instrumentos, foi possível confrontar as informações coletadas entre essas duas categorias (aluno e professor), possibilitando uma maior aproximação com a realidade educacional vivenciada na unidade prisional. Neste sentido, a pesquisa nos permitiu identificar que a educação escolar ofertada no Presídio Professor Aníbal Bruno não vem contribuindo satisfatoriamente para a ressocialização dos apenados, uma vez que o índice de reincidência entre os internos que frequentam a escola é bastante elevado, não havendo, assim, por parte dos reeducandos uma pré-disposição à ressocialização.

Educação prisional no estado de São Paulo: passado, presente e futuro

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

The prison library handbook, prepared for the Committee on libraries in correctional institutions of the American library association and the Committee on education of the American prison association;

"Suggested simplified Dewey classification for prison libraries": p. 171-178.

The world as it is, containing a view of the present condition of its principal nations as to their forms of government, military and naval strength, revenues, banking institutions, prison discipline, commerce, religion, morals, education, &c., &c., with anecdotes of distinguished characters.

Mode of access: Internet.

Distance Education in the Professionalization of People with Disability and Prison Inmates

This paper illustrates the impact of the Universidad Estatal a Distancia  (UNED, by its Spanish acronym) in supporting and professionalizing the vulnerable groups of the Costa Rican society, including prison inmates, persons with physical disability, individuals from remote areas, among others.  This study attempts to answer this type of questions: What kind of support has been provided to these sectors?  What are the challenges faced by distance education universities to succeed?  How does UNED have solved these challenges?  What is the impact of the Universidad Estatal a Distancia on the Costa Rican society for the professionalization of its population?  Documentation and statistics have been used in the study; in addition, two people who graduated from UNED were selected to illustrate the type of cases the University serves.(1) Translator’s note: It refers to the “Costa Rican Distance Education State University”.

Conflict, transition and education for ‘political generosity’: learning from the experience of ex-combatants in Northern Ireland

This article suggests that opportunities exist to harness the potential of history and citizenship education with the processes of transition in developing programmes which support young people in exploring conflict and the challenges associated with attending to its legacy. Drawing on the experience of Northern Ireland, it is suggested that the narratives of those who have been involved directly as both combatants in conflict and latterly as agents of change in their communities provide unique opportunities for young people to reflect on these issues. By way of illustration, an account of one such initiative is presented: ‘From Prison to Peace: learning from the experience of political ex-prisoners’; a structured programme which invites young people to engage directly with loyalist and republican ex-combatants in the Northern Ireland conflict. The article suggests that such programmes have the potential to assist young people in exploring the complexity of conflict and the intricacies of transition. Furthermore it is suggested that the relationships which exist between these ex-combatants arguably can challenge sectarian perspectives and foster capacity for ‘political generosity’ towards those with opposing political aspirations.

Effectiveness of a nutrition education program for women in a residential program after incarceration

Background: The number of incarcerated women has increased dramatically over the past two decades. During their stay in prison, the medical and nutritional needs of these women are frequently ignored. Overweight or obesity related to poor dietary habits and low-income status are important risk factors for health inequities. Women in this population are at risk for dietary-related chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. This is an indication that there is a need for nutrition education in this population. ^ Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide an evidence-based nutrition education program at a facility for previously incarcerated women in Downtown Houston, Texas (Brigid's Hope). This nutrition education program focused on promoting better health and prevention of chronic diseases by increasing fruit and vegetable (FV) intake and healthy eating on a limited budget. Constructs such as knowledge, skills, self-efficacy, and perceived barriers were evaluated as well as acceptability, feasibility, and sustainability of the program. ^ Methods: The Hope for Health Nutrition Education Program occurred in four weekly sessions at Brigid's Hope. The evaluation design was a one-group quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-test measures. Identical pre- and post-tests were administered before and after the intervention. A total of 11 residents and 2 staff members participated in the study. Results: After four nutrition education sessions, post-tests revealed an overall increase in knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy scores, and decrease in perceived barrier scores towards FV consumption. Changes in skills, self-efficacy, and perceived barriers scores were found to be statistically significant. Participant satisfaction surveys revealed overall high satisfaction of the program and that continuing the program in the future would be possible with support from staff member and mentors. ^ Conclusions: Results from this study show that a nutrition education program can have positive effects towards knowledge, skills, self-efficacy, and perceived barriers towards FV consumption for previously incarcerated women. The high satisfaction for this program shows that a health promotion program with focus on diet and nutrition can play an important role in helping this unique population of women re-enter society.^

Commission to Study the Problems of Education in Penal Institutions for Youths, a description and commentary,

Published by the association under its earlier name: American Prison Association.