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"Prisoners Are People" Perspective--And the Problems of Promoting Learning Where This Outlook Is Rejected

NCJ Number
175486
Journal
Journal of Correctional Education Volume: 49 Issue: 3 Dated: September 1998 Pages: 118-132
Author(s)
K Warner
Date Published
1998
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This paper discusses how increased use of incarceration, negative stereotyping of prisoners and extremely vengeful attitudes, destructive in themselves, also severely narrow and distort the education of inmates.
Abstract
The article claims that the philosophy inherent in the European Prison Rules (Council of Europe 1987) is a coherent and credible description of the role of imprisonment, i.e., it advocates an adult education orientation for the education of those held in custody. The article analyzes a Council of Europe report, "Education in Prison" (1990), which also advocates that view, and analyzes and criticizes the Anglo-American approach, arguing that it is close to incompatible with genuine education. The article discusses some of the underlying core principles of European Prison Rules, the Anglo-American model, issues for prison education, transformative learning, and suggestions for the future. References