Prison works?

Abstract

It is a commonly held view, one certainly held by the government, and most prison reformers, that the primary function of prison labour is to provide training and work experience to aid a prisoner in finding a post-release job. This is certainly not backed up by the everyday experiences of many prisoners and by the evidence base. Even the Prison Service reluctantly acknowledges that ‘The aim of prison industries is to occupy prisoners in out-of-cell activity and wherever possible to help them gain skills, qualifications and work experience to improve their employment prospects upon release’ (Select Committee on Home Affairs, 2004) (my emphasis).

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Notes on contributors

Joe Black

Joe Black works with the Campaign against Prison Slavery and is a long-term abolitionist and campaigner