|
|
Issues - Prison Reform - Bias in the prison population
The report said women coming off drugs did not have enough
support
Women inmates at a Cheshire prison are being put at risk by
a lack of support during drug withdrawal and with mental health
problems, a top report says.
Chief Inspector of Prisons Anne Owers said more must be done
at Styal Prison to ensure vulnerable inmates' safety.
Although there were some improvements, a hastily set up system
to dispense methadone after six drug users' suicides was "inadequate",
she said.
Penal reform group the Howard League branded Styal "unsafe
for women".
It urged the courts to consider using alternatives to custody.
In terms of things like support and care plans there was an
awful lot more to do
Anne Owers
Chief Inspector of Prisons
Does jailing women really help? The methadone programme was
set up at the Wilmslow jail after six inmates killed themselves
in a single year.
All died within their first month in custody and five of them
had a serious drug habit.
Ms Owers said an earlier inspection had stressed the urgent
need for a proper detoxification regime in Styal's Waite wing
in particular.
But the programme was set up "only after the sixth death"
and "in great haste", she said.
'No support'
She said a regime "focused around methadone dispensing"
and lacked proper systems to make sure women could access
the detoxification programme.
She told BBC News Online: "Clearly it (Styal) has improved
safety but nothing was put around it - there was nothing put
in support.
"A lot of women were spending up to 19 hours or more
in cells and there was nothing for them to do.
"Obviously coming down from drugs that's very important.
In terms of things like support and care plans there was an
awful lot more to do."
We have to ask whether a prison is or ever can be the right
place to treat acute mental illness
Anne Owers
Ms Owers' report also expressed concern about the use of special
cells to hold disruptive prisoners, even those who self-harmed.
One woman was subjected to formal punishment after being cut
down from trying to hang herself.
She added that more must be done to help women with mental
health problems.
Styal was unique in having a psychiatric unit, she said, but
"we have to ask whether a prison is or ever can be the
right place to treat acute mental illness".
But she praised "supportive and open relationships"
between staff and inmates and said progress had been made
in resettling prisoners after release.
'Substantial progress'
Education provision had improved and race relations were "among
the best" she had seen.
Director General of the Prison Service Phil Wheatley said
substantial progress had been made in detoxification provision,
suicide and self-harm policies, making Styal a safer place.
A longer term review of mental health needs was under way,
he said.
The Howard League for Penal Reform said courts must make greater
use of community sentences.
Styal is being used as a dumping ground for the mentally ill
and drug addicts who have been failed by society
Juliet Lyons
Director, Prison Reform Trust
Director Frances Crook said: "Women are not safe in Styal
Prison.
"The director general of the Prison Service should make
it clear that women should no longer be sent or held there.
"The prison is failing to provide a service to the public,
the courts, the women and the victims."
Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, described
the situation as "one of the most shocking examples of
institutional failure in a public service".
She said: "Styal is being used as a dumping ground for
the mentally ill and drug addicts who have been failed by
society."
However, women only make-up 6% of the prison population. Men
make-up 94%. Does the gender biased view expressed by the
BBC mean that all men are deserving of punishment in prison
and that there is not a case for their problems with regards
to illiteracy, drug problems and mental illness?
|
