Working therapeutically with high risk prisoners Dr. Jamie Bennett is Governor of HM Prison Grendon & Springhill and a Research Associate at University of Oxford

Introducing Grendon Opened 1962 category B prison operating entirely as a set of therapeutic communities 230 places with communities of 40 residents voluntarily staying for at least 2 years 95% serving indeterminate sentences Integrated clinical/operational staff group

Introducing Grendon More convictions than average Half have attempted suicide Two-thirds experienced severe abuse Half used opiates/cannabis frequently prior to arrival High prevalence of personality disorder “damaged, disturbed and dangerous” (Shine and Newton, 2000, p.23)

What is a Therapeutic Community? Community meetings Groups meetings Creative therapy Community activities Work and education Therapy “is based on the totality of what happens within the prison…therapy…does not occur in isolation from what is happening in the rest of the prison, rather every aspect of prison life is an integral component of the therapeutic community environment” (Brookes, 2010, p.102-3).

Does it work? Improved behaviour in prison (adjudications) Adjudications a fifth of the rate for similar prisons and from the Grendon population, their adjudications are eight times higher before Grendon. Difference even higher when focus on violence and drugs offences Rises after Grendon but remains below average. (Newton 2010)

Does it work? Reduced self harm 29 incidents of self harm per 1000 men per year, compared to 130-137 per 1000 nationally Environmental, situation and relational issues all contribute to this success (Rivlin 2010)

Does it work? Improved quality of life for prisoners

Does it work? Value for money Benefits include: reduction in reoffending; intermediate outcomes; improved well being; diversion. Additional costs compared to similar category prison is estimated to be £4,556 Cost benefit ratio estimated to be 2.33:1, so every £1 invested in Grendon will accrue social savings of £2·33 over the future course of the criminal career. (Albertson et al 2013)

Does it work? Reoffending (Taylor 2000)

Can this be applied elsewhere? Engaging staff and prisoners Constructive and positive relationships Grendon visits culture Decency, trust and safety Integrated and engaged security Bennett, P. & Shuker (2010)

Can this be applied elsewhere? Constitutions Consistent staff teams Staff support/training/supervision Wing councils Voluntary roles Peer support Family days/social days Nurturing talents and interests Reaching out

Final reflections

https://www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/publications/psj

Contact: jamie.bennett@hmps.gsi.gov.uk