Unlocking Potential: Active Citizenship And Volunteering By Prisoners
| Published date | 01 September 2002 |
| Date | 01 September 2002 |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455050204900302 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Active Citizenship And
Volunteering By Prisoners
Joe Levenson and Finola Farrant present the findings of the first
national study of voluntary work and active citizenship amongst
prisoners. They argue that, despite pockets of good practice, the
Prison Service has largely failed to take advantage of the resettlement
potential offered by such activities.
The involvement of people in strengthens the bonds between
voluntary and community work has
individuals which are the bedrock of a
considerable benefits for society. It can
strong civil society. And in doing so it
provide help to those in need and
helps create a sense of citizenship”
experience and skills for the volunteers
(The Independent, 9.10.2001).
themselves. As the United Nations, which
However, volunteering and active
held an International Year of the Volunteer
citizenship by prisoners has been largely
in 2001, has recognised, volunteering:
overlooked by the Government and the
“helps to bring in out of the cold groups
Prison Service. This is why the Prison
of people who are excluded from
Reform Trust conducted the first national
mainstream society: for example, by
study on this subject, which forms the basis
volunteering, unemployed people can
of this article.
acquire skills that will help them to find
The United Nations has defined three
paid work” (Dingle et al, 2001, p.9).
criteria for volunteering: (i) it is not
As prisoners have many of the
undertaken primarily for financial gain,
characteristics of social exclusion and the
(ii) it is undertaken of one’s own free will,
experience of imprisonment is itself
and (iii) it brings benefit to a third party as
exclusionary, volunteering can be of
well as to the people who volunteer (in
particular use to prisoners. Volunteering can
Dingle et al, 2001, p.11). Volunteering is
enable prisoners to take responsibility and
widespread throughout UK society. The
help reconnect them with society. As Home
1997 National Survey of Volunteering
Secretary David Blunkett puts it:
found that 48 per cent of adults take part in
“Volunteering empowers people. It is
formal volunteering. Young people are less
rewarding for individuals. It cuts across
likely to be involved in voluntary work than
divides of age, race and gender
older people, those with high incomes are
which isolate and alienate people. It
more likely to volunteer than those with
195
low incomes, and men and women are
helping to prevent re-offending. A number
equally likely to volunteer (Davis Smith,
of studies have shown that unemployed
1998). The majority of people in prison do
offenders are more likely to be reconvicted
not conform to the traditional view of the
than those in employment, whilst the Trade
type of person a volunteer is likely to be.
Union Congress (TUC) has argued that:
Prisoners tend to be young and on low or no
“Helping ex-offenders into jobs is one
incomes. Over a quarter have spent time in
of the most effective ways of preventing
care as a child (Singleton et al, 1997), half
them from re-offending: all of us are
of all men in prison and over 60 per cent of
less likely to be the victims of crime if
women in prison have no educational
we can help ex-offenders into work”
qualifications and over two in three
(Trade Union Congress, 2001, p.2).
prisoners did not have a job at the time of
Low educational attainment, health
conviction (HM Inspectorate of
problems and the lack of stable housing can
Prisons/HM Inspectorate of Probation,
make it problematic for ex-prisoners to find
2001).
employment after release. Long-term
As a result of their imprisonment,
prisoners can also face the added difficulty
prisoners are physically isolated from the
of the labour market having changed during
rest of society. Many are kept in prisons a
their imprisonment, rendering their skills
long way from their homes. Around 26,000
irrelevant. In addition, ex-prisoners
prisoners are held over 50 miles from their
frequently face discrimination from
homes, 6,000 of whom are held between
employers. Any contribution that voluntary
100-150 miles away (Hansard, 20 July
work can make in preparing prisoners for
2001, 659W). This dislocation adds to the
employment should therefore be strongly
exclusion prisoners can feel from society.
supported by the Prison Service.
Isolation from the outside world makes the
experience of imprisonment more difficult
and can lead to institutionalisation, with
prisoners unable to adapt to life outside of
The Research Project
the prison environment after release. This
means it is important to prepare prisoners
There were two aims of the Prison Reform
for life after release. Gradual exposure to
Trust’s national study of volunteering and
the community can help ensure that people
active citizenship by prisoners: first, to try
are more able to cope with the choices,
to measure the extent of volunteering by
pressures and responsibilities of life outside
prisoners; and second, to gain an
prison. In order to successfully integrate
understanding of the value put on these
prisoners back into society prisons should
activities by prisoners and staff. A
facilitate opportunities for prisoners to
questionnaire was designed to collect data
engage in a wide range of voluntary work.
about opportunities in prisons for
Such opportunities encourage people to act
volunteering and active citizenship by
considerately towards one another, can
prisoners. Following a pilot, the survey was
address needs, and put an emphasis upon
then sent to all 136 prisons in full operation
community involvement and
in England and Wales. Complete replies
empowerment. Volunteering can provide a
were received from 117 prisons,
valuable way of prisoners supporting each
representing 86 per cent of the total
other, as well as establishing a connection
number. Fieldwork was undertaken in eight
between prisoners and the outside world.
prisons: Ashwell (category C), Buckley
Volunteering can provide work
Hall (then a category C male prison, now a
experience, improve skills and confidence
female prison), Drake Hall (female),
and enable prisoners to gain a work
Frankland (dispersal), Grendon (category
reference. By acting as an employment
B), Kirklevington Grange (category C
gateway, it can play a valuable part in
resettlement), Thorn Cross (young offender
196
institution) and Wandsworth (local). These
whilst in prison (Singleton et al, 1997). The
were selected to represent all types of
first Listeners scheme was established in
prisons, and had been identified from the
Swansea Prison in 1991 and within three
survey as having examples of good
years of its existence the incidence of
practice. During visits the main focus was
recorded self-harm had halved (Davies,
on meeting prisoners. However, a range of
1994). Listener schemes are now
staff were also consulted including prison
embedded into many prison cultures and
officers, governors, education staff,
found in 85 per cent of prisons, involving
workshop supervisors and members of
one in 56 prisoners. The research found a
Boards of Visitors. In total, we met 82
clear commitment to Listener schemes and
prisoners and 18 members of staff. By
the added value they provide in supporting
visiting prisons from across the prison
vulnerable prisoners. One prison officer
estate we were able to see how
said “prisoners may find delivery [of
volunteering and active citizenship can be
advice and services] more acceptable from
developed in all types of prisons, regardless
members of their peer group”,...
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