Inmates 'to be trained for work'

[ShadesWolf]

The government has published plans for a programme to improve prison education in England.
It is hoped better training will help reduce the numbers of inmates who re-offend on release. Currently, 53% of those freed commit further crimes.

A Green Paper says a prime purpose of prison should be to educate inmates.

It also urges closer co-operation between the prison service and employers, to try to ensure prisoners gain the skills the economy needs.

Employers are to be encouraged to recruit ex-offenders.

Almost 80,000 prisoners are in jails in Britain, most of whom have had a poor education.

Pilot schemes which involve training prisoners, and offering them a job on release, have brought re-offending rates down to almost nil, says BBC education correspondent Mike Baker.


Yet last week a report by the Adult Learning Inspectorate said more than half of prisons offered "inadequate" training.

And in March, a report by MPs found half of inmates lacked the skills needed for 96% of jobs available on their release.

Only a third had access to formal education, lasting on average nine hours a week, the Commons education select committee found.

The Green Paper, which seeks to address some of the concerns raised by MPs, was published by the Department for Education and Skills, the Home Office and the Department for Work and Pensions.

The Forum on Prisoner Education broadly welcomed the publication of the paper, but said there was "a mountain to climb" in terms of persuading employers to recruit ex-offenders.

The forum is also concerned the government is overlooking academic education in prisons, in favour of vocational studies.

"What we mustn't do is lose track of academic qualifications," said the forum's director, Steve Taylor.

Training programmes

At Coldingley Prison near Woking, prisoners are being offered specific training programmes, reflecting the government's aim for prison education.

Patrick has been working in a prison workshop for three years and has been welding for a year and a half.

"It was difficult when I started, but I know the job now," he said.

"I think it's quite important because first of all it passes the time and secondly I'm learning something and it's quite useful."

Stephen has qualified as a fork-lift truck driver whilst in the prison and hopes to use the skill once he is released.

"It's the best job in the establishment and it makes the day go a lot quicker to be honest and it is useful obviously because I can use it on the outside," he said.

Coldingley governor Paul McDowell said education and training was the key to rehabilitation.

"It's absolutely vital. We're a training establishment and we're seeking to rehabilitate and resettle offenders back into the community," said Mr McDowell.

"And our core goal is to reduce crime - that's the point of the work we do."

53% percent reoffend - keep them behind bars longer to reduce crime me thinks

most of whom have had a poor education. - So its the schools fault right well done labour with the education reforms.....

[ShadesWolf]

And who is going to pay for all this. We are with higher taxes.

[BDC]

And who is going to pay for all this. We are with higher taxes.

Yes, but if they don't reoffend then they don't go back to prison, which saves money in the longer term. And if they aren't in prison it's less likely their kids will end up in prison etc, saving more money.

Plus if they are earning they are paying for it with their taxes anyway...

[Marcellus]

53% percent reoffend - keep them behind bars longer to reduce crime me thinks

I don't see why imprisoning them that bit longer would really reduce crime considerably. However, giving prisoners a way to access many more jobs can.

[GoreBag]

Optimistic. It'll be an interesting experiment, I guess.

[JAG]

Thankfully the rehabilitation process brought in slowly, slowly by Labour is growing and expanding. When introduced this will be a huge step in the right direction and just one of the many reasons why it is so important to have a Labour govt and not a stinking Tory one.

[Redleg]

If they want to do it right - they will model it after some of the more successful halfway and work house projects that have occured in the United States.

Several states do have worthwhile work training programs for inmates that allow them to capitalize on learning new skills or improving alreadly existing skills and using the experience once they are released from their sentence.

Nothing wrong with training the prisoners and having them complete work projects to learn new skills. It does provide some benefit to both the state and the individual.

If it helps to reduce the return to jail of even 10% of the particapants then in my opinion its money well worth spending.

Just as long as the state insure the safety of the citizens while helping the convicted learn new skills.