The voluntary sector has long delivered innovation in criminal justice settings. With regimes restricted after the pandemic, and staff shortages impacting access in prisons and probation, Clinks recently held a London Criminal Justice Forum to spotlight how two organisations have responded by embracing technology and modernising their delivery. These forums, held every three months by Clinks, bring together local organisations to learn, network and showcase their work. Matt Uberoi, Clinks London Development Officer, explains how new digital solutions from the voluntary sector in prisons and probation can reduce reoffending.
Prisoners’ Education Trust: Embracing Digital Distance Learning
Prisoners’ Education Trust help around 3,500 learners each year study in prisons across England and Wales, developing skills to build brighter futures. Distance learning is commonplace in wider society because it can be accessed online, but that is not the case inside prisons. Since it was founded in 1989, Prisoners’ Education Trust have provided paper-based courses, completed using pencil or pen, with prisoners corresponding with tutors through the postal service. “We know how long things take in prison, especially the postal service” explains Jon Collins, CEO of Prisoners’ Education Trust, who has long advocated for prisons to introduce technology that create a “quicker, more reliable, and less stressful” distance learning experience, as well as improving overall digital literacy and rehabilitation.
Citing security concerns and budget constraints, requests from the voluntary sector for prisons to introduce technology were largely dismissed by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) for many years. All this changed, however, because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Modernising prisons became a major priority and, in 2021, in addition to installing phones into cells, His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) committed to begin providing every prisoner with access to a laptop or tablet computer. “We want [prison] services that are fit for the internet era, and allow us to better adapt to the need for remote working, learning and relationships” explained Jo Farrar, Chief Executive of HMPPS, when introducing the new Digital, Data & Technology strategy. As part of this approach, a small number of private companies, such as Coracle who also spoke at the recently held Clinks London Criminal Justice Forum, were authorised to provide secure laptops to prisoners to use in cells, partnering with specialists, including from the voluntary sector, to supply content and courses for their laptops.
One early voluntary sector partner was Prisoners’ Education Trust, who immediately saw the benefit of offering elements of their work, such as application forms, in addition to actual distance learning courses, through in-cell laptops. According to Jon, there are three fundamental advantages: reach, service-user experience, and speed. Promoting their support through laptops in prisons across England and Wales has enabled Prisoners’ Education Trust to “reach upwards of 88,000 people, which our staff simply could not do [using the traditional postal service]”. Digital access is easier and quicker, resulting in “a more positive learner experience, particularly if effort is made to develop video and other interactive elements that are not available through paper-based delivery”. Looking ahead, Jon emphasised the importance of technology to organisational strategy, highlighting how it can enhance voluntary sector delivery inside prisons and generate efficiency savings: “Laptops are absolutely the future; they provide opportunities to improve provision, and reduce the cost per course, meaning we can help more people”.
Shannon Trust: Blending Digital and Human Support
Another voluntary organisation embracing technology is Shannon Trust, who help thousands of people learn inside prisons every year. Their traditional reading programme, Turning Pages, and numeracy programme, Count Me In, are available in all prisons across England and Wales and enables learners to go at their own pace, instilling confidence as they progress. As Ian Merrill, CEO of Shannon Trust, explains: “Our solution is to train people inside prison, who have a good level of reading and maths, to become peer mentors. They then use our programs to teach people to read and improve their maths”.
Recognising the unique position their peer mentors occupy (being able to access and teach inside prison regularly, on a one-on-one basis), Shannon Trust do not have a pressing need to utilise in-cell laptops for their delivery, however they still embraced the opportunity and evolved. As Ian made clear, “We see digital technology as an enabler for learning, not as a replacement for the human component, which remains very important. People are still supported by a dedicated coach for the duration of the program [whilst having access to a laptop]”. Instead, Shannon Trust focussed on developing a digital solution for people on probation - with impressive results.
Shannon Trust won the 2022 Prison Leavers Innovation Challenge (PLIC), a Ministry of Justice award for organisations developing innovative technology solutions to reduce reoffending. Working with Yalla Cooperative, they designed Turning Pages Digital - an app based on the paper-based learning model, aimed at prison leavers with low literacy levels and learning disabilities “It is a nice alternative to physical manuals” explains Ian. “Digitising this program provides prison leavers with greater flexibility and on the app, learners can set personal goals - such as learning to read a letter from their family or write a CV”. The app is currently being piloted with 300 prison leavers with self-assessed low literacy across the Kent, Surrey, and Sussex probation regions.
The integration of digital technology into prisons and probation has the potential to be transformative, not just for people going through the criminal justice system, but for voluntary organisations wanting to be more efficient and reach wider audiences. Organisations such as Prisoners’ Education Trust and Shannon Trust are at the forefront of this change and have demonstrated how technology can enhance existing voluntary sector provision.
Voluntary organisations interested in delivering their work digitally in prisons can contact Coracle by email on support@coracleonline.com. Coracle have placed more than two and half thousand secure laptops across 86 prisons, including every prison in London, so that people can access educational content during their sentences, even from their cell.
For more information about the Clinks London Criminal Justice Forum, including how voluntary organisations can register to attend the next meeting on Thursday 17 October 2024, please click here.
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The role is for a leader from an organisation focused on racially minoritised people, with expertise in service delivery, policy, advocacy, or related areas in criminal justice. Racial disparities are present at every CJS stage. This role ensures these voices are central in shaping policy to help address and eradicate them. Apply by Mon 18 Nov, 10am. More info: https://www.clinks.org/voluntary-community-sector/vacancies/15566 #CriminalJustice #RR3 #RacialEquity