Emeritus Prof Christopher MayMar 13

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given recent Govt.s have seldom been really interested in prisons as anything more than punishment or warehousing for criminals, the budget for prison education (a key aspect of any hope fro rehabilitation) has been cut (again) in real terms.

This is doubly disappointing as one might have hoped James Timpson as Prisons Minister might have been able to shift the Govt. towards realising the value of prison education.

#prison #education #politics

https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2026/03/13/cuts-to-prison-education-why-the-uk-cannot-afford-to-take-this-step/

Cuts to prison education: Why the UK cannot afford to take this step - Transforming Society

Scott Thomas and Jonathan Glazzard, authors of 'The Queer World of Prison', argue that despite government claims of modest reductions, prison education across England and Wales faces deep cuts—up to 65% in some prisons—threatening rehabilitation, prison safety and efforts to reduce reoffending.

Transforming Society
Show threadMatthew NewellMar 14

@ChrisMayLA6

The regressive far right press have completely captured the narrative on prisons and loss of liberty as punishment.

"lock em up and throw away the key" / "hanging is too good for them" is an easy, tempting, and persuasive message - even if completely contrary to all evidence and theory.

Just like the false story told (and seemingly accepted) about immigration and refugees a hard right lie has been internalised as truth by voters, press, and politicians.

Matthew NewellMar 14
Show threaddave
@MatthewNewell @ChrisMayLA6 as someone with a relative who's gone through the prison system, its really sad to see that kind of willfully-ignorant dehumanisation.
Mar 14 at 8:58amWeb
Show threadEmeritus Prof Christopher MayMar 14

@davetortoise @MatthewNewell

Yes, rather than rehabilitation the system seems to designed to compound pressures to continue criminal activity once released