Role of Special Units
in the Prison Service establisment
Karen Walsh, a long time
prisoner visitor and writer to many many Hostages is researching
the role of Special Units such as Red Spur at H.M.P. Whitemoor. All her
correspondence to date has been to and from either Prison Service Headquarters
or the Home Office. In the interests of fairness she would like to be
enabled to contact prisoners who have been through the assessment stage
at one of the 8 feeder (High Security Estate) prisons and beyond that
stage. Also she would like to contact inmates who have attended one of
the Special Units to enable them put forward the reality of their experiences
as it's the only way the research can reflect a balance.The information
is not readily available from grass roots level ie; the 'prisoner's experience'
All she can glean at the moment is from the Home Office, documents on
the internet and out of date press articles
Below are the questions
she would like answered, Karen is highly recommended by MOJUK and all
answers would be in strictest confidence.
- Did you choose to volunteer to go to
one of the Special Units and why?
- If you chose to volunteer what persuaded
you?
- If the prison recommended that you go,
how far into your sentence were you at that point?
- Do you think there is sufficient balanced
information available to prisoners on the function of the Special Units?
- Have you been furnished with the (holding)
prison report findings as to why you were considered a suitable candidate
to go to one of the Special Units?
- Have you been furnished with the (holding)
prison report findings as to why you were not found a suitable candidate
to go to one of the Special Units?
- Did you feel pressured in any way to
volunteer to go to one of the Special Units?
- How would you describe the assessment
process to determine whether a prisoner is suitable to attend one of
the Special Units?
- How long did you have to wait for the
results of the assessment, and how were you informed?
- Were you told what qualifications were
held by the person who carried out the assessment?
- If your assessment report stated that
you were not a suitable candidate for one of the Special Units did it
document any useful and relevant recommendations that you should follow
at the holding prison?
- How long did you have to wait from being
informed you were a suitable candidate for one of the Special Units
to being afforded a place?
- Can you give a description of the differences
between the prison where you came from and the Special Unit environment?
- Did you feel the information you had
been given at the prison prior to your attendance at the Special Unit
was excellent, sufficient, or could be improved on?
- How would you describe the therapy offered
at the Special Unit?
- Do the reports suggest that you benefited
from the therapy received at the Special Unit?
- How long did you stay at the Special
Unit?
- Where did you go when your stay at the
Special Unit came to an end?
- Was it made clear what your future prospects
are now in relation to your sentence as a result of any findings at
the Special Unit?
K. Walsh researcher
c/o of Open Minds
P.O. Box 212
Warndon
Worcs
WR4 9QZ
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