NCJ Number
15352
Date Published
1970
Length
238 pages
Annotation
COLLECTION OF TAPED INTERVIEWS WITH INMATES AND OFFICERS AT GRENDON PRISON, A SPECIAL BRITISH CORRECTIONAL FACILITY WHICH PROVIDES INTENSIVE PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT FOR YOUNG ADULT OFFENDERS.
Abstract
THE PURPOSE OF THESE INTERVIEWS WAS TO OBTAIN MATERIAL TO PORTRAY THE PRISON AS A PLACE WITH AN ENTITY AND IDENTITY OF ITS OWN. THESE CONVERSATIONS REVEAL FACTS ABOUT THE INSTITUTION, SUCH AS RULES, CHARACTERISTICS OF OFFENDERS AND OFFICERS, AND PROCEDURES. GRENDON IS NOT A HOSPITAL BUT AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PRISON SERVICE. IT DOES NOT TAKE PATIENTS ELIGIBLE TO BE DEALT WITH UNDER THE MENTAL HEALTH ACT 1959. IT IS, THEREFORE, COMPLEMENTARY RATHER THAN SUPPLEMENTARY TO THE SPECIAL HOSPITALS AND PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE. PRISONERS ARE NOT ACCEPTED DIRECT FROM THE COURTS BUT ARE TRANSFERRED ON DIRECTION FROM THE PRISON DEPARTMENT AFTER SELECTION, AND PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION, BY MEDICAL OFFICERS IN PRISONS AND BORSTALS. AS FOR ANY OTHER FORM OF PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT INMATES MUST BE WILLING AND ABLE TO CO-OPERATE IN THE REGIME. NEVERTHELESS SOME MEN WHO GO RATHER RELUCTANTLY TO GRENDON, BUT ARE WILLING TO GIVE IT A TRIAL, OFTEN RESPOND WELL. COMMUNITY THERAPY (MODIFIED AT GRENDON TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF A SECURE INSTITUTION) MEANS THAT THE TOTAL ORGANISATION, IN WHICH THE PATIENT IS INVOLVED, FORMS PART OF THE THERAPEUTIC REGIME. SO THAT NOT ONLY THE PATIENT'S RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS DOCTOR BUT ALL RELATIONSHIPS OF ALL STAFF AND PATIENTS ARE SEEN AS A VITAL FORCE AFFECTING TREATMENT. THE TOTAL RESOURCES OF THE COMMUNITY ARE MOBILISED TO THIS END. BARRIERS BETWEEN INMATES AND STAFF ARE REMOVED, COMMUNICATIONS IMPROVED, AND SPONTANEITY OF RELATIONSHIPS ENCOURAGED. THE AIM IS TO PRODUCE A SUPPORTIVE AND PERMISSIVE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THE INMATE IS ENCOURAGED TO EXPRESS HIS INNER FEELINGS, HIS DOUBTS AND DIFFICULTIES, WITHOUT FEAR OF RETALIATION FROM OTHERS. TO THIS END THE QUALITY OF THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT IS IMPORTANT AND A WARM 'EMOTIONAL CLIMATE' MUST BE MAINTAINED. DISTURBANCE AND DISRUPTION BY UNRULY MEMBERS MUST BE KEPT AT A TOLERABLE MINIMUM. VIOLENCE AND BULLYING ARE NOT TOLERATED AT GRENDON. TO SAVE DISTURBANCE TO THE COMMUNITY UNCO-OPERATIVE INDIVIDUALS ARE QUIETLY REMOVED BY THE 'GHOST TRAIN'. INMATES IN GRENDON ARE DIVIDED INTO GROUPS AND HOUSED IN WINGS. EACH GROUP HAS A THERAPIST--EITHER A PSYCHIATRIST OR AN EXPERIENCED CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST--AND ALL GROUPS MEET TOGETHER DAILY WITH THEIR THERAPIST AND THE WING STAFF. ONCE A WEEK THE WHOLE COMMUNITY--INMATES AND ALL THE STAFF--MEET IN A GENERAL 'FORUM' WHEN INMATES ARE FREE TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS, AIR GRIEVANCES, AND CRITICISE THE STAFF AND INSTITUTION IF THEY WISH. AFTER THE INITIAL PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENT INMATES ARE DISCOURAGED FROM SEEKING OUT THEIR THERAPIST INDIVIDUALLY, EXCEPT THROUGH THEIR GROUPS, BUT TREATMENT FOR INMATES WITH SPECIAL PROBLEMS (E.G. ALCOHOLISM, PSYCHONEUROTIC ILLNESS ETC.) IS ARRANGED. NEUROTICS FREQUENTLY HAVE DISTURBED INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND ARE, AT FIRST, OFTEN DEMANDING AND COMPLAINING ABOUT WHAT THEY CONSIDER TO BE NECESSARY TREATMENT. IN ADDITION TO THE FOREGOING GRENDON RUNS A VIGOROUS PROGRAMME OF INDUSTRIAL WORK, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, RECREATION-INCLUDING THE ARTS AND DRAMA--EDUCATION, SPORT, RELIGION, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, PLASTIC SURGERY AND SOCIAL WELFARE. VISITS FROM RELATIVES AND FRIENDS ARE ENCOURAGED. TRANSPORT HAS TO BE PROVIDED BECAUSE GRENDON'S RATHER INACCESSIBLE GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION IN THE BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNTRYSIDE MAKES DIFFICULTIES FOR BOTH VISITORS AND STAFF. UNFORTUNATELY SITES AVAILABLE FOR PENAL INSTITUTIONS ARE OFTEN ISOLATED, AS THEY USED TO BE FOR MENTAL HOSPITALS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)