Criminal justice in our lawless jails
The vigilante attack on Ian Huntley reveals that a prison governor's writ simply does not run on the landings and wings
By Erwin James
The reported attack on Soham murderer Ian Huntley by fellow life-sentence prisoner Damian Fowkes in Frankland high-security prison last week brings one of the more vile aspects of British prison culture once more to public attention. The idea that some prisoners hold any kind of moral authority over others is perhaps the most serious cognitive distortion to plague prison life in the UK.
People outside rightly believe that there are rules in prison. Indeed, in any prison governor's office in any prison in the country, there is a big book entitled Prison Rules. But on a prison landing, in a prisoner hierarchy, there are no rules, other than those that determine the survival of the fittest. Not the fittest as in the most athletic, although a healthy measure of athleticism is certainly a helpful survival aid. But the fittest as Spencer and Darwin would have understood it – the most fitted to a particular environment.
On a prison landing, this means the most treacherous, the most deceitful, the most manipulative, hypocritical and vicious.
A mixture of law, politics, autobiography and humour. Once described as "The Devilish Advocate" (Guardian), I do have the ability to provoke a response. Sometimes it comes from someone who uses a thought process, and sometimes from jerks usually associated with the knee.
6 comments:
Spot on, Erwin. The sort of debate that turns Guardian readers into closet raving loonies. On the bright side, perhaps it's only the spittle-flecked few who can be arsed to comment.
Does anyone really think their are "self-governing" rules in prison? That people who couldn't play by some pretty simple rules in society can actually develop a code of conduct beyond the biggest gets his way?
Charles Cowling, not to be rude or anything but you are the spittle-flecked few..as you so neatly acknowledged. What is with your creepy blog? If Mister Hirst's most vocal support comes from fringe lunatics like you, then the game is up.
Anonymous said...
Charles Cowling, not to be rude or anything but you are the spittle-flecked few..as you so neatly acknowledged. What is with your creepy blog? If Mister Hirst's most vocal support comes from fringe lunatics like you, then the game is up.
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Not to be rude Anonymous, but aren't you the spittle-flecked moron who gets his kicks out of pathetically trying to wind folk up? With a group of prisoners families wife's on your case, trust me, you don't stand a prayer buddy!
@ Anonymous 1.
First, I do not hide behind anonymity. Second, for all I know, Mr Hirst does not agree with or endorse a word of what I say and wishes only that I would shut up and go away. But that's blogging; the poor sod just has to put up with it. As to my blog, well, it may seem creepy to you now, but one of these days you'll need it.
I am proud to be denounced by you! Thank you!
Take no notice of the useless post by Anonymous Charles. Since the thread on Huntley started, it seems some pots and pans have rattled.
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