5 minute read
Education on the inside
EDUCATION ON THE INSIDE
The University is piloting a new Prison Partnership scheme, which aims to encourage more higher education in prisons, ultimately reducing reoffending rates.
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In the UK, around 50 per cent of the population will have a degree or attend university by the age of 30. This compares to just two per cent of the 80,000 people serving a sentence in prison.
Meanwhile, research shows that students who have gained higher level qualifications in prison are less likely to reoffend, suggesting that access to higher education (HE) has a positive and measurable influence on social reform.
A culture of inclusion
The University of Westminster has an ‘inclusive admissions’ policy. Believing that access to education is integral to social mobility, we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including former prisoners. We have also established four successful and growing partnerships with prisons, which bring Westminster students and inmate students together in a range of learning initiatives.
Through these partnerships, Westminster has established itself as a leader in the field of prisoner education, but there is more that can be done.
Barriers behind bars
Despite our efforts and those of other universities to encourage HE in prisons, the uptake of the courses remains relatively low, with a reported three fifths of people leaving prison without identified employment, education or a training outcome. Of the prisoners who do undertake study, only a small proportion continue with their studies post-release.
This is due to a distinct lack of options to challenge attitudes about education in prisons, with most of the training focused on gaining employment in low-skilled, minimum wage jobs.
For those who are capable of higher achievements, there is little variety in the courses available, meaning prison students are often shoehorned into a subject that does not interest them. As a result, they are less engaged with their studies and less likely to continue the course once released from prison, or pursue a career in that field. On top of this, there are practical restrictions to studying in prison, including limited resources, study materials and digital access.
All of these barriers dissuade prisoners from gaining worthy qualifications. Far fewer prisoners than possible are taking up the chance to rehabilitate themselves through education, despite the opportunity to do so being beneficial to them while in prison, as well as on the outside.
“Studying for a degree instantly focuses the mind. It gives a purpose to the ‘dead time’ which is now defined as ‘study time’,” explains Dan, a former prisoner who is currently completing his PhD at Westminster. “As a result, previous instances of negative behaviour during this idle time cease and this is both observed and mirrored by others on the wing.
“Similarly, the attitude of staff changes. Students who choose to spend their association time focusing on their studies are seen as role models, which is both settling and reassuring to others. When staff witness this change in demeanour, they tend to engage more positively with the men or women and frequently this leads to the offer of new roles of responsibility. For students, this new mindset of experiencing positive treatment from both officers and peers is liberating. Often it is Black students who feel the biggest shift in attitude. As things become more positive over time (and a part-time degree takes six years to complete), students start to believe that things really can be different when they are released. They make a personal commitment to recidivism changes and show a determination to secure employment relevant to their qualifications. They start to feel responsible for others and want to impart this success by persuading others to take the same path.”
The scheme to break the cycle
Dan is now the Co-Director of DWRM Consultants, an organisation dedicated to providing support to prisoners disadvantaged by a lack of HE provisions. DWRM have partnered with Westminster to run the Prison University Partnerships scheme, which aims to broaden the options, support and access to HE in prisons.
This pilot scheme, led by Dr Morwenna Bennallick, Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Social Sciences at Westminster, will begin by offering a Foundation module to ten students in each of three prisons (benefiting 30 in total). Those who successfully complete the module will be offered entry to a Foundation degree course at Westminster, with the hope that many will then progress to a full undergraduate degree. Once released from prison, these students will be welcomed to continue and complete their studies at Westminster, and will be given a mentor to support them throughout the process, encouraging them to continue studying.
Following the success of the pilot, the scheme will then branch out to offer a wider variety of courses to students in prison, setting a precedent for other universities to do the same.
No time like the present
Until recently, Westminster didn’t have the infrastructure to offer most of its courses to students in prison. But due the digital acceleration triggered by COVID-19, nearly all of our courses can be accessed and attended online – removing the need for students to physically attend lectures on campus.
The Prison University Partnerships scheme is leveraging this development to give more opportunities to prisoners with high employment aspirations. With a wider variety of courses and more support in place, a larger percentage of inmate students can be expected to complete their studies, gain employment and break free from the cycle of crime.
Furthermore, in the long term, with the qualifications achieved and their personal experience of the criminal justice system, former prisoners will be best placed to advise on prison reform and policy change, contributing to a safer, more equal and inclusive society.
CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIAL REFORM
Thanks to generous donations from the Golden Bottle Trust and the Facet Trust, £10,000 has already been raised for the project.
If you would like to support prison reform by donating to the project, or would like to find out more about the Prison University Partnerships scheme, please get in touch with the Development Team: development@westminster.ac.uk
