NCJ Number
90431
Date Published
1982
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This paper reviews the historical background of British prison industries, recent policy developments, headquarters organization, and some problems of the prison industries.
Abstract
It was not until after the 1895 report of the Gladstone Committee that punitive labor in British prisons was rejected in favor of a constructive approach to inmate labor. In 1933, specialist instruction was introduced at the local level, and in subsequent years, the number and variety of prison industries has increased. In 1964, there were 36 different manufacturing activities spread over 100 establishments, and in 1966, reorganization attempted to reduce work activities to those which could be organized on a sound economic basis. Between 1967 and 1970, more specialist staff was introduced, and a more commercial approach to prison industries was adopted. Responsibility for the policy of industries and farms and gardens activities, including the structure of inmates' earnings, rests with the Director of Industries and Farms (DIF) under the Director of Regimes and Services. DIF has five interrelated functional groups: planning and services, commercial, farms and gardens, management and accountancy, and personnel. Some problems in prison industries include the high turnover in the labor force, a short work week due to the limiting of activities resulting from prison overcrowding, instructor vacancies, and inadequate pay incentive schemes. Tabular data cover the number of inmates engaged in the various categories of work on a representative day in 1970 and 1980, and nine references are listed.