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
80
70
60
Any
Custodial
Violent
Sexual
50
40
30
20
10
0
Waiting list
18 months+
(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:
[email protected]