Comments & Feedback
If you have any feedback or suggestions to help the development of Prison Dialogue’s work, please do contact us:
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Response to HMP Dorchester Threshold Dialogue reports:
“(I can see that) group members regardless of role are contributing to the discussions and the constructive challenges are providing learning opportunities which are being shared outside of the group.”
Senior Manager, G4S, September 08
‘From what I can see of the Dorchester reports it is clear that a lot of prisoners require a lot of support. I suspect that support is not out there in the community for them - at least not enough to meet everybody’s needs. Until we can educate people and develop people with sufficient social and people skills to survive out there in society I do not see progress being made - in fact I think it will get worse. I was speaking to a teacher at the weekend and she said it was too late for many before they even started school - so for me it is apparent that as a society we have to ensure that all children get a decent chance in life and that those bought up in difficult circumstances are identified and somehow given that support and the opportunity to be developed in a manner that at least gives them a chance in life - a chance that some clearly do not get.’
‘it is good to read what the prisoners have to say - it is to the benefit of everybody.’
Senior Officer, HMP Dorchester, August’08
Feedback from Prisoners
“Here you can sort out your differences with staff, at least you can air them. It’s a stepping stone.” Perrie Wing Inmate
“I came to the group before. It keeps you on the straight and narrow. When the group stopped it left a hole. Then I started getting into trouble with the police. When I heard the group was on again I said — Yeah….I’ll be there.” Probation client
“This sort of thing could change the prison, if the whole prison could come together the way this group has come together. The officers have to be sensitive to what’s going on, and put each other right. This helps them do that. If it was accredited I wouldn’t come. It would be full of guys talking crap to get parole.”
Feedback from Officers
“Despite all my officer training the most I’ve ever learned is from prisoners. More staff should be involved in opportunities like this to learn from prisoners” Prison Officer
“The dialogue helps prisoners think through their problems to be clear about what they want to do, the restrictions and how they might deal with problems…it gives us feedback on how things could be done differently prisoners and officers get more able to approach each other. For example I had to ask an inmate to turn down his radio, it would have been face to face without the dialogue. Throughout the group I had completely forgotten I was an officer, but I have no difficulty resuming my role after the group. It was enlightening at times. I have seen people differently and learned not to pre-judge people. We all stereotype. I do that with inmates, I can’t help it. I have changed my view of people” Principal Officer
Feedback from Governors
“I think this is the help we needed. There’s a sense of moving forward, that we’re coming together. There’s tons of possibility and I’m really encouraged.” Assistant Director, NDC
“I write to express my deep gratitude to you for speaking at last weeks Right Relationships Conference … The feedback I have received from a number of delegates, both staff and prisoners, has been very positive and it is clear that your presentation raised real interest in Dialogue and the value it can add to the running of long term prisons.”
Feedback From Civilian Staff And BoV
“it’s good to see people as people, not just behavioural deficits ” Psychologist