Evaluation

I realise that what happens within a prison is controversial and can provoke strong feelings of emotion.  I want to stress that these thoughts and opinions are my own.

Throughout my blog I have made comparisons to prisons in New Zealand and Scotland, opposed to the UK. The reason for this is that our prison and judicial systems are different to in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. I’m sure that most of what I have learnt would absolutely be applicable to the rest of the UK, but my experience has just been working north of the border.

There are often two camps people fall into when having opinions about prisons. Some people believe that going to prison is the punishment; others believe that you go to prison to be punished. I am firmly in the first camp, and I very much believe that what happens to a prisoner when they are serving their sentence is really important.

I like that the Department of Corrections aren’t scared to set themselves challenges, for example making all the prisons non-smoking and the aim of reducing reoffending rates by 25%. I think it is really positive to aim high, and I think it shows a real belief in their system.

One of the things that struck me was the names of the prisons; many of them were called Correctional Facilities opposed to Prisons. The name does sound slightly Orwellian to me, but I do like the idea of it, that while you are there, there is a focus of rehabilitation and correcting behavior.  I was also struck by how nice and clean the prisons are.

There are two major things that I took away from my trip that I think are incredibly important, that I think would be great if we could implement in the UK.

The first one is the establishment of Maori and Pacific Islander Focus Units, and the effort that is made for the prisoners to connect with their heritage. The jails have a disproportionate amount of men and women from either Maori or Islander heritage, but from visiting the prisons I learnt that before going to prison many did not know much about their culture.  As mentioned before, within Maori culture in particular there is a real sense of pride and a heavy focus on family. Many of those who end up in prison have not had stable families, many have been sent to live with several different relatives, and have become more caught up in gang culture, than their own. For the Islanders there is a thing called ‘Seeds of Shame’ where it looks at the fact that their behavior would not be tolerated back at home, and that they can embrace their culture’s views and values to live a lawful life on the outside.

I also believe that if you give someone a real sense of pride and self-belief, perhaps they will not drink or take drugs to such excess. Most crimes in both countries are committed under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

It is also great, however, that you do not have to be Maori, for example, to participate in the Maori Focus Unit, you just need to be committed to learn about it. This is something that could be used in the UK as certain areas get more multicultural, participating and learning about the cultures and customs of others might promote better understanding and stop ignorance and fear.

The second is the effort to link communities with the prisons. Monique Reekers, who is the Programme Manager for Canterbury Prisons says; ‘For me, the arts in prisons are good for the community, good for the Department and good for prisoners. Everyone benefits. Communities are often unsettled about prisons and this can shift their perceptions of the Department and prisoners. Communities tend to feel more comfortable when they’re told about programmes that result in positive change and when they’re invited to see the results for themselves.’

As mentioned in my blog, prison arts tutors organize exhibitions that take place in the community, and have local high schools help. Auckland Council had commissioned the Carving Unit at Pare to make a bench in memory of a young girl who died, and another carving unit has made a special door for another school. Prisoners who participate in the Learning Connextion have their work exhibited alongside other students and the Songs From The Inside documentary was so popular, everyone who I spoke to in New Zealand mentioned it to me. I believe that the community does have a part to play when prisoners are released, and as Monique Reekers says members of the community’s perceptions of prisoners can change if there are integrated arts projects. I would hope that it also would help those who maybe have not felt like they are part of a community to feel more involved.

One thing that I did notice similarities in was when I was talking to prisoners in both New Zealand and in Scotland, is that many had big plans for when they are released, that they didn’t want to go back inside, they wanted to be a good role model for their children etc. I would like to hope that they do mean what they say, however, it is easier to say that in prison, then follow it on the outside where life may be harder than they anticipated due to difficulties finding work, being back in their old areas where there may be temptations or that they are back with the people they used to commit crime with. They may also be labeled as a prisoner, known for the crime that they committed, something that might be hard for them to shake off. All these things can lead to reoffending. Arts Access aim to have projects that once released the prisoners can participate in within the community, so that they still have the opportunity to participate in the arts after release. It would provide stability and support and would be a positive thing for them to be engaging with.

However, this visit also showed me that we’re doing okay in the UK too. I was surprised visiting Pare and learning how long maximum-security prisoners are locked up for during the day, and the fact that not all can access education or arts programmes, to me seems wrong. I was working in a male maximum-security jail in my early twenties and was safe and always felt safe. I loved my job and was and still am proud of the work that was made while I was working there. I believe that those in my classes got a lot from them, and it’s not just me, there are fantastic lecturers based in maximum security prisons throughout the country, and access to education and arts programmes and work means that the prisoners are not wasting their days, but doing something productive. Surely maximum secure prisoners need this the most due to the serious nature of their crimes?

One of the things that struck some people in New Zealand is odd is the way that the colleges that provide education have to hit prisoner learning hours, which means that you need as many prisoners in your class as possible, and at times it seems that your number of hours is more important than the quality of the work that happens in the class. This is not the case at all in New Zealand, although they use volunteers to run most of their programmes, for example when I visited Anne Abraham at Arohata Prison, she was hoping to find a volunteer to take Speech and Drama. I was told that without volunteers not much would happen in prisons.  Working with volunteers is great and it does reinforce the link with the local community, but it does mean that there is not there not the same opportunities for professional artists to work within prisons, and it could mean that the prisoners are not being offered the best possible quality of art.

So in conclusion, I think that if we can create better links with local communities and prisons, it could be hugely beneficial. Centres such as Pablos really worked for when psychiatric hospitals closed down, and it provided a safe and supportive environment for people to go to and work, it exhibits their work and provides them with professional tutors. I think that it would be great if specialist arts centres were set up so prisoners can continue with what they have learnt inside, and have a supportive environment to do it in, run by people who understand their needs.  The extra support that Sandra Hall at the Learning Connexion provides recently released prisoners is outstanding, and it would be fantastic if there was a set up for released prisoners could go to to continue their artistic practice, as well as being able to provide support with issues such as housing, healthcare, employment etc. I think if this was aimed to begin with at those leaving Young Offender’s Institutions, it would be really valuable.

I also think that helping people find pride in who they are and where they are from in important. In Scotland, the things we are famous for are actually quite negative, and as a nation we are very self-deprecating. However, what I know I can do, and what I am doing is passing on to my colleagues who work with young people, particularly young people who are at risk, to make a real effort to work with them to help build their confidence and self-belief. This is something that has been proven time and time again that participation in the arts can help with. It is a small step, but even if it prevents one person from participating in anti social behaviour and ending up spending their lives in and out of prison, then I think that this Fellowship will have been worth it.

I feel incredibly lucky to have had this experience. I have learnt so much, met so many amazing and inspiring people and was able to travel to the other side of the world to learn about something that is very important to me. This was an experience that I will never forget, and I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to do this.