join the children more, but to what end? To find out, our reporter was given three days of rare access to the institution of Ashfield Young Offenders'
Latest: reception
units are in prison custody Ashfield youth in the suburbs of Bristol for 20 hours and let out the slender, bent over Ryan Lewis, who just turned 16 and is increasing in prison for the first time. Its introduction begins in a reception room window and lighting drive belt, decorated with a small fish tank, a potted plant and sad signs new if they bite the prisoners that staff can expect to an additional 28 days added to his sentence. The room smells like a fish and chips, which is prisoners who are late to court fed that day, while sitting in a cell, waiting to be searched.
AmandaHitchens, director of security operations, in charge of the reception for the night shift asked to provide your name and date of birth, what he does with words that suggest an impasto default serious. He films his eyes around the room as the entry formalities were completed, taking in the surroundings. A report of the court says Ryan can have mental health problems and the risk of a possible suicide. The form also indicates that he spent much of his life support. He is in prison for assaulting his mother.
A prison guard led him into an adjoining room where he removes the purple jersey research on the upper body and his black jeans for a search on the lower body. You are invited to sit in a gray plastic head large (body orifice Security Scanner) chair to a body scan for hidden metal objects. Sometimes staff find phones hidden inside bottom of a prisoner, or drugs associated with cotton thread in balls, but Ryan is new to the prison system and did not know any of that stuff. Can not find anything, then it is given a green tracksuit and offers a hot drinks machine, while their old clothes are packed in a plastic storage box black, marked with a label showing a picture of your face and number prison.
The driver of the wagon, used by private companies GeoAmey, Ryan talked about how quiet it was during the trip of 104 miles of the Court of Southampton. Generally, young people are a nuisance to drive because they are very noisy, shouting at each other and hit the windows for the girls, he said. Adults tend to behave better. "The novelty is gone," he said. Ryan has traveled sitting in a molded plastic seat of the six cabins Van. No seat cushions, as they have always started, the chauffeur said, and without a seat belt when prisoners tried to hang himself.
Ryan sees a nurse and returned the medication for ADHD, Equasym, who brought with him, and led through the prison to see his cell by Frances Crawley, the Acting Director has worked here for eight years.
She takes him in a cell on the second floor of the wing to guard, but still, a short figure, stooped, with a problem of cleanliness of new prisons and prison-Y-fronts in a clear plastic bag, grabbing attention with frightened eyes of the noisy crowd of prisoners outside their cells for an association in the afternoon. Everyone is in a green uniform, but the prisoners are allowed to bring their own instructors, prisoners sneakers the most disadvantaged, or who have not received the shoes in the house, dressed in white, carried out in the reception. Prisoners tend to wear their pants down, and has a variety of hairstyles, braids and plaits. Many clothing chains colored plastic rosary around the neck
two small bars of soap were presented in the table in his cell, a TV, a white plastic comb, two packs of Colgate and pink. In the future will have to buy your own toothpaste and shampoo, but the welcome kit that everyone receives. On the bed, there are a lot of candy - a packet of Polos, gum fun, refreshing, a fudge bar - and some orange juice. Despite the softness, the cell is very depressing. It is narrow and (obviously) confined, pillows and comforter of the bed unmade and colorful are yellowing and no toilet seat.
is taken to a windowless room in the wing in response to Cathy for the first interview of the night, which prison officials to gather the information they need to ensure that the held handled properly.
"These questions may seem a bit personal, but try to relax, just so we can help you," says Cathy. "Have you had the feeling of hurt or kill yourself?"
It clings to the arm of his chair while listening to, from time to time to transfer bags and then back to grab the arms of his chair. His forehead is full and looks petrified.
"No"
"Who goes there?"
"I live with my mother. That's why I'm here because I attacked. "
"How are things with your mom? Did you speak? "
"It's going to be. Not yet."
Cathystored in your phone during the conversation, it is related to other employees and may be redistributed, if there are problems elsewhere.
"Do you have a mental health problem or physical?"
"Yes, I have asthma and ADHD. What time is bang-up? "
She asked about their drug use, snuff and alcohol, jumps to attention. Later, the staff wonders if maybe he has not taken your medication today, which could explain his voice to speak. It has the fuzz on his upper lip, too insignificant to shave, which sounds very young
"How do you feel about the first night in Ashfield?"
"Well," he said, but restless eyes anxiously to the piece of glass in the door behind her when she speaks, through which you can see the other prisoners were crammed to intimidate .
"You're not worried?"
"No, you know when the lights go out? When the lights go out
"In your cell, you can turn ... You can let us know if you are bullied. "
"I can not change my bedding. I do not know how."
"Okay. I'm going to order it for you. "
"Is it okay to watch TV?" He asks. "I'll be on my cell phone of tomorrow?"
"Yes."
"I want to get some beads." She says there will be a session during the induction program for one week during which he will teach you how to use ATMs that are located in each wing, through which prisoners can order snacks and objects personal items such as beads. The chaplain is available to speak to him tomorrow. "It will give you some support."
7 hours. Breakfast
The youngest of the prisoners on the wing of USLA (on leave school). The 30 children, aged between 15 and 16 are seated in rows of tables and chairs bolted to the floor. The plastic foam padding and shot many presidents. "Children are children, who gathered in the field," said an officer
The prison is privately owned by Serco, and was the first private prison in the UK for young offenders, the company's expense around £ 55 000 per year per inmate , which is comparable to units of the state. Prison reform activists are still very hostile to the spread of private prisons, arguing that the existence of a profit-based model is not compatible with the goal of having fewer people in prisons.
The debate is at the forefront of the minds of the prisoners, many prisoners were transferred from Feltham, which is the state prefers to be here, especially because they are outside their cells for much longer, an average of 9.8 hours per day.
The prisoner after cleaning disinfectant spray brand Serco small tables and some aerosols in a peer adolescents.
Personal expect a fight. Since the beginning of the morning, two children were screaming through the doors of their cells to hit each other. One was locked in his cell again. But the desire to fight is contagious as children mill around after breakfast, there is a sudden shock like a prisoner hits another side of her face.
"We are fighting because they keep you busy. Or because they are sexually frustrated, "says one prisoner.
The two children are returned to their cells, one with a bloody lip, and the rest are taken to their cells or in the exercise yard, where it is still pitch black and mist. No one comes to the performance of devices on the corner of the fenced yard, but nestles in the cold, complained that the staff will not give them a football to play. The staff say they will not let them play football now because otherwise it will be too tired for school.
8.30. Mass displacement
Lessons are mandatory for all 360 inmates, who are aged between 15 and 18, and inmates earn 40 cents for every class you attend, you can spend on chocolate or credits for phone calls . Classes start at 8:30, but the staff is beginning to pick up the kids before, so they can be moved in small groups in the education wing. Mass movements of the prison population between meals and classes are just some of the most risky of the day, and at least 20 staff members are arranged on the football field that stands between the two blocks houses (each with four wings housing) and the school.
due to recent changes in sentencing guidelines, the prison houses many inmates more dangerous than they did four years ago, when about 46% of inmates were for minor offenses, such as car crime. , Now, due to concerns about overcrowding, and the desire to imprison serious offenders only, only 2% of prisoners are in the car crime, and the rest was found guilty of everything from murder related drug trafficking, rape, robbery and gang attacks. Most children come from London, and ethnic minorities, black and now stands at over 50%. There was an increase in gang violence on the inside, linked to the conflict outside the prison walls.
Ashfield few years later opened its doors in 1999, there were fights and riots here so that the Chief of Corrections he described as the worst prisons in the country, and a director of the State Prison was subjected to a time to replace the director of the private prison employees. Things have improved since the last inspection and Ashfield has been very positive, but is still fighting to get out often. A team of officials is also the control of the mass is moving in a group of screens in a control room at the first sign of trouble, the staff are ordered to block the wings
This morning, the movement is peaceful, although officials complain about the number of prisoners walk to class with her hands in her panties. "We have this thing at a time when everyone walks around with his hands on his trousers," said one official. "It's very unhealthy to begin with. We are constantly told to wash their hands. "
"Ashfield is shit," someone shouted from a window on the ground floor cell.
9:00. Staff meeting the morning
About 13 senior officials come to the block administration to discuss the problems encountered the previous day. Pending the meeting, consider a bulletin board with posters of identifying the most dangerous inmates in the prison. A summary of safety incidents a week was also the key. "Threats to staff, 12, and assaults on staff of one, three drugs, snuff six, four guns, intimidation 10"
briefings are everywhere reminding staff about the values ??of the prison, and lists of items that should not be worn inside. Prohibited items include wax, gum, magnets, playdough, toy guns, mobile phones, Blu-Tack, metal cutlery, explosives, cable, newspapers, magazines, computer memory cards, personal medication excessive umbrellas . Things that will be closely monitored include tools, yeast, cling film role, rope, vinegar, glue and tin.
Even when locked in the bathroom, you can not escape the newsletter staff. Signs attached to the back of toilet doors warn, "? Mischief Worried by the staff involved in the corruption / unethical practices Are you aware of young people by offering rewards or gifts to the staff"
Official through a handful of incidents, fights, assaults on staff, exchange of blows to the gym, a stabbing of an inmate with a homemade weapon, a screw was melted at the end of a brush handle. An inmate has threatened to hit a teacher in the face, and there was another teacher sexual assault of a prisoner who was rubbing his hands between the top of your legs. "The teacher is very busy and a little tears when talking about," says a colleague. The list of problems is not unusual and the meeting ended quickly.
9.30. Download
Muhammad, just 16, was freed after four months here for an aggravated sexual assault. As he prepares to leave the building, he is convinced that his first contact with the prison was to commit new crimes.
"I was very scared when I entered I could not cope in prison. I was in health care to try to hurt me banging my head against the wall, trying to hurt me with curtains. I felt very bad. I thought, you might as well die. "
Do you think the prison work? "It worked. Ha If I do something wrong, I think in prison and I will not.
"It's a boring life here. Some people have been here for two years. I do not know how. I was injured. "
Not sure what to do now. "I do not know. Try looking at the university."
Many prisoners are not so sure that prison is a deterrent. Jason, 17, who has been in seven different prisons since his first visit at the age of 14 years, said that the prison did not have much negative effect on him.
"At first I was a bit of a shock to the system not to have close family, and then I got used to," he said. During his time inside, he learned a number of useful things from other prisoners. "How do you weigh and sell drugs, how to make a profit on them stolen car, I learned to fight in the prison you have to fight faster, .. This can only last a few seconds before to be arrested by you have to fight you better go for the damage as soon as possible -. fighting, kicking, biting, and "
courses anger management has taken many do not help. "They suggest that the technique of 7-11 - can breathe for seven seconds out of 11, is an opportunity for you to calm down does not work if you're in this situation, you do not have time to say .. stop - let me breathe for several seconds, "she said. "I do not think the prison system works. Just a hole in people's lives. "
senior prison staff do not want to be seen to criticize government policy, but privately acknowledge that the short sentences do not work for young people. "It is generally accepted that the guard does not work in the round of minors," the deputy director. "We have no choice. The law says that they have come to understand what to do with them."
Earlier this week a prisoner, Martin, set fire to his cell for two hours. Brunel was transferred to the prison wing, the segregation unit of 17 beds, a prison within a prison. William Barnes, director of the prison catering, chairs a reward, something like an inner court hearing to decide how the offender should be punished.
"I do not want to be in my room ... more of a whore." Martin told the group of officers gathered to hear his explanations. It is unusually pale neglected teeth and hunched shoulders.
burned The cell was blocked until the police arrived, but the acrid smell of burning plastic and the carpet is hung around the top floor of the wing in prison. Fires like this happen once or twice a month, less often that the prisoners are not allowed to have toasters in their cells. Lighters are banned, but some detainees are good to build a call from pieces of fabric and wire heater current. It is often wet the bed to create maximum smoke. Are generally not cause harm to staff, it's a wake-up call, or if you want to be moved to a new cell
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