Students learn the reality of prison life.
8th April 2008
A group of students from
The group of 12 girls, aged between 14 and 16, went to HMP Morton Hall in
They were shown around the prison and spent time talking to prisoners, who had been convicted of a range of offences. HMP Morton Hall is a semi-open women's prison which holds just under 400 offenders.
Ivan Kearney, the Community Initiatives Coordinator at Loughborough police station organised the trip. He said; "The day was about engaging the young people in a lively and stimulating way to try and show them the serious consequences of making the wrong choices. It was about encouraging good citizenship and warning them that bad behaviour can put you on a slippery slope to prison. The prisoners were very articulate and honest about their life experiences. It was very striking to see the pupil's attitude change as they became more aware of the seriousness of prison life. They saw for themselves how a prisoner's dignity and pride are affected by a period of custody and I think it really opened their eyes and I hope it will have a long term impact."
The pupils have all written to the prisoners to thank them for their time. One pupil wrote; "When they told us about what happens when they first went into prison it made me think I never want to go there and I'll think about my actions and I don't want to lose family over it!"
Another wrote; "When we got there I was laughing and joking then we got into the room and we saw the dog everyone got scared and it made us all think about what we do and what we are doing. It was a really good day." A third girl wrote; "It was strange and scary and I wouldn't like to be searched. I didn't like the food and don't want pride taken away from me."
Mike Griffiths, the Re-Engagement Co-Coordinator at
One of the prisoners who spoke to the girls, Sarah, wrote to Ivan after the visit to tell him that she too had learnt a great deal from the day and that it had helped her. She wrote; "Firstly I would like to express to you (as well as all other's involved) my sincere gratitude for not
only the opportunity to address the young people and hopefully give them a little more understanding of the personal and overall consequences of their actions...but also for allowing me to be able to express my motivation and determination to change my own life around. Personally speaking I have not had the chance to show my remorse and guilt in a constructive or positive way and I am extremely mentally and emotionally overwhelmed which is a link to humanity I thought I had lost so again thank you all so much." She added that the project had given her an insight into an area she didn't know much about, "helping others," and that she was pleased to be, "giving a little back to society," and that it had made her think about her career choices when she got out of prison. She has also offered to talk to other pupils in the future.
Ivan Kearney added; "Everyone benefited from the day, which was unique as it has never been done before with all female pupils at that prison. It took a lot of co-ordination to set it and I know that everyone took something from it and I am pleased that the prison and the college are planning to work with us and hold similar days in the future."