Guest MattP Posted 27 June 2012 Posted 27 June 2012 Anyone watch this on Channel 4 last night? Quite a chilling documentary meeting the prisoners at Gartree. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/lifers
marko Posted 27 June 2012 Posted 27 June 2012 Watched it on Monday night. That Welsh guy who was going at his victim for 90 minutes was horrific; cold, cold stuff. I can't believe that older guy who'd killed his wife and his daughters still came to see him.
RobHawk Posted 27 June 2012 Posted 27 June 2012 I think its been on a few nights as i caught most of one episode the night before!! Some of the people in their make acooling look normal!!
Guest MattP Posted 27 June 2012 Posted 27 June 2012 Didn't realise it had been on all week. I'll give all them a watch now! The guy who chilled me was the one who murdered the old guy for money, said he fell sleep at the trial as it was boring but Prison was brilliant as he got 3 meals a day and a playstation, staggering.
Fox 4 Life Posted 27 June 2012 Posted 27 June 2012 Its a good programme but has anyone noticed how chilled out it seems in there, TVs, playstations etc - seems more like uni halls than a prison! Considering these are murderers etc it seems a bit lax.
davieG Posted 27 June 2012 Posted 27 June 2012 I played a few football games against Gartree Prison back in the late 60s not long after it had opened and they had the best sporting facilities I'd ever seen, better than LCFC. Was a weird experience, especially as it was a home game for us that we had to play there for obvious reasons. There was decent crowd but they were all stood in pairs with some of them urging us to get stuck into some of the other players. They used to win the League and the Cup every year partly because all their games were at home but also because they where 10 times fitter than us and not suffering hangovers.
simmo1977 Posted 27 June 2012 Posted 27 June 2012 A list of facilities at Gartree prison, if you told me this was a list of facilities at a hotel I would think it was quite a good one. Facilities Own clothes (not basic) Own bedding (not basic) PlayStation (Enhanced) Television (£1 per week) Cooking facilities and fridges Prisoners can keep a prison bred budgie HEALTH & SPORTS Sports available include; Badminton Basketball Circuit Training Health & Nutrician Light Circuit Training Over 40s Over 50s Remedial Soccer Soft Tennis Sports Field Volleyball Weight Loss Programme Weight Training HEALTHCARE Specialist Clinics CPN: By referral Dentist: Weekly - 1 year waiting list InReach: Daily Optician: Optician - 2 month's waiting list Physio: Twice weekly Podiatry: Weekly Stop Smoking: 6 week course EDUCATION EDUCATION PROVIDER Milton Keynes College Chaffron Way Centre, Chaffron Way, Leadenhall, Milton Keynes MK6 5LP Tel: 01908 684444 Career Information & Advice Services (CIAS) Lincoln College Monks Road, Lincoln LN2 5HQ Tel: 01522 876000 Classes include; Art Basic Education Basic Skills Computer Skills Cookery Creative Writing English Key Skills Life and Social Skills Literacy Maths Numeracy Open University VOCATIONAL TRAINING Prison Workshops BICS Braille Contract Services PICTA Plastics Data Entry Textiles Employment Employment includes; Catering Gardening Health & Safety Horticulture Industrial Cleaning Laundry Painting & Decorating Performance Manufacturing Operations PICTA Polymer Processes Sports Studies Learning aims recorded for Skills Funding Agency OLASS Adult Literacy Adult Numeracy Basic Construction Skills BTEC First Diploma in Hospitality BTEC National Award for IT Practitioners Business Finance (QCF) Business, Administration and Law (SSA 15) Certificate for IT Users (CLAiT Plus) Certificate for IT Users (New CLAiT) Computerised Accounts (QCF) Diploma for IT Users (CLAiT Plus) Diploma for IT Users (New CLAiT) ESOL Skills for Life ESOL Skills for Life (Entry 1) ESOL Skills for Life (Entry 2) ESOL Skills for Life (Entry 3) Foundation Personal Finance Gardening GCSE English A GCSE English Literature B GCSE History A GCSE in Mathematics B (Modular) GCSE Information and Communication Technology A ICT Skills for Life Intermediate Personal Finance Introduction to Food, Drink and Cooking (Entry 3) Key Skills in Communication - level 3 Key Skills in Improving Own Learning and Performance Key Skills in Information and Communication Technology - Level 1 Key Skills in Information and Communication Technology - Level 2 Key Skills in Information and Communication Technology - Level 3 Key Skills in Problem Solving Key Skills in Working with Others Learning Support National Skills for Self Employment National Success in Self Employment NQF - Entry Level, Information and Communication Technology (SSA 6), PW B NQF - Level 1, Information and Communication Technology (SSA 6), PW B NQF - Level 2, Arts, Media and Publishing (SSA 9), PW C NQF - Level 2, Business, Administration and Law (SSA 15), PW A NQF - Level 2, Information and Communication Technology (SSA 6), PW B NQF - Level 2, Retail and Commercial Enterprise (SSA 7), PW C NQF - Level 3, Arts, Media and Publishing (SSA 9), PW C NQF - Level 3, Business, Administration and Law (SSA 15), PW A NQF - Level 3, Information and Communication Technology (SSA 6), PW B OCN Entry Level, PW B, Information and Communication Technology (SSA 6) OCN Level 1, PW A, Health, Public Services and Care (SSA 1) OCN Level 1, PW A, Preparation for Life and Work (SSA 14) OCN Level 1, PW C, Arts, Media and Publishing (SSA 9) OCN Level 2, PW C, Arts, Media and Publishing (SSA 9) Text Processing (Business Professional) (QCF) Text Processing (Business Professional) (QCF) Using Cooking Skills in a Domestic Kitchen Using ICT (Entry 3) (QCF) Using Visual Presentation Software Current Wages Employed: £2.50 - £7.50 Education: £0.90 per session Retired: £4.00 Long term sick: £4.00 <a href="http://www.insidetime.org/info-regimes2.asp?nameofprison=HMP_GARTREE#pagetop">Back to top OFFENCE FOCUSED COURSES A.V.P. CALM Cognitive Self-Change Programme Healthy Relationships programme Therapeutic Communities TSP (Thinking Skills Course) FAMILY DAYS Family Days Available Yes Guardian Has To Stay Yes Own Children Yes Grandchildren Yes Age Limits 1 - 16 years No of Visitors Permitted 2 COMMUNICATIONS Telephones Most prisons now have PIN phones. Your relative or friend usually needs to apply to have your name and number on his/her telephone account. You will usually receive a call from the prison to check who you are and to ensure you are happy for them to call you. Prisoners cannot receive telephone calls. There is no restriction on who prisoners can call except in the case of calls to journalists intended to be broadcast. In some cases child protection measures may mean extra checks on who they call. Prisoners can normally make calls only during ‘association’ periods. Some prisons limit the length of time a call can last to avoid queues and people being disappointed. Prisoners’ telephone calls are very expensive; calls to landlines now cost 10p per minute and 37.5 p to mobiles (compared to 2p in a public phone box). In most prisons the phone calls can be listened to and/or recorded. If a prisoner is newly convicted or transferred they should be offered an immediate ‘Reception’ phone call to tell you where they are. It may take a few days for numbers to be transferred or added. Letters When you write to a prisoner you must include your full name and address. In most prisons the letters are searched and can be read before being given to the prisoner. You can write about anything but letters must not be obscene, name ‘victims’, or be a threat to discipline or security. Do not enclose any items with letters. Make sure you put sufficient postage to cover the costs (anything bigger than A5 counts as ‘large’). Prisoners can normally receive a ‘reasonable’ number of letters per week. If you send greetings cards these should be of reasonable size and not padded or pouched. Do not send musical cards. If you are sending more than one card put them all inside one outer envelope, this saves postage. Remember to include your full details (you could put your details on a ‘Post-It’ note stuck to the card or include a letter which has your details). Always put the prisoner’s full name and prison number. If the person has been moved their mail will be forwarded. On conviction or transfer a prisoner should be given a ‘Reception’ letter to write to tell you where they are. Prisoners are given a free letter each week to post out, they can send more, but at their own expense. Some prisons allow you to send in stamps. Photographs You can usually send in photographs but in some prisons these must not include any image of the prisoner. Child protection measures may mean that some prisoners may not receive pictures of children, unless they are their own and were not ‘victims’. If you send pictures of children include an explanatory note identifying who the children are and their relationship to the prisoner. Money It is not a good idea to send cash, this can get ‘lost’ in the prison. Prisons prefer postal orders, but you could send a cheque. Make these payable to ‘H M Prison Service’, write your name on the back and also the prisoner’s full name and prison number. Any money sent which is deemed to be ‘anonymous’ can be stopped. Money you send is paid into the prisoner’s ‘Private Cash’ account and they get access to a certain amount (depending upon IEP) each week [currently £15.50 for Standard prisoners]. Visits For full information about visits please refer to our ‘Visit Info’ section for this prison. Visits are very important to prisoners. At most prisons you may not give any item to the prisoner. Any items you wish to give them must usually be posted to the prison, and often after the prisoner has placed an ‘application’ for authorisation to have it sent in. The items which can be posted in are very limited. Check with the prisoner first and wait until they confirm that you can post it. Emergencies If there is a serious emergency - close family serious illness, death, or other reason you need to inform the prisoner immediately, you should telephone the main prison number and explain the problem to the operator who will transfer you to the appropriate person. If you are unhappy about their response redial and ask to speak to the Chaplaincy. Prison staff will not pass on general messages but only critical and very urgent messages. You should provide full details of the prisoner including their number. Support and Advice There are many very good charities and agencies who offer support and advice to people with family or friends in prison. We have a special section ‘Help/Support’ which has details and contact information for many of these. Do not hesitate or feel shy about calling any of these; they are there to offer support and advice. EMAIL A PRISONER This service operates at this prison. Email a Prisoner enables you to send messages to prisoners, in the UK and Irish prisons that operate the service, from any computer, without any of the hassles of writing and posting a letter, and it costs less than a second class stamp! Your message is delivered to the prison within seconds so that it can be delivered to the prisoner by the prison staff in the next delivery. It is free to sign up to Email a Prisoner and only takes a few seconds - all you need is an email address (EMaP can help you if you don't have an email address). Once a member you will be able to send a message to any prisoner in the UK or Ireland, provided you know their prisoner number, from just 25 pence per message. Click Here for link to Email a Prisoner website Story Book Dads/Mums Story Book Dads/Mums operates at this prison. The imprisoned parent records a story and a message which is then edited and enhanced using digital audio software and editors remove mistakes and add sound effects and music. Finally a CD is made, a personalised cover created, and the finished disc sent to the child. The whole service is free.
simmo1977 Posted 27 June 2012 Posted 27 June 2012 I think they are treated a hell of a lot better than OAP's who have paid into a system all their lives and are now living on the breadline. Playstations and TV's? There is a difference between treating someone like a human being and rewarding murderer's.
Raj Posted 27 June 2012 Posted 27 June 2012 You mean they are treated like human beings :o :o Unlike the victims of their crimes eh pal???
Guest MattP Posted 27 June 2012 Posted 27 June 2012 You mean they are treated like human beings :o :o I don't get that list when I go to the Hilton!
Raj Posted 27 June 2012 Posted 27 June 2012 And now the poor cherubs may be able to have sex with their partners in jail/hotels if the loops will have it their way.
Guest Posted 27 June 2012 Posted 27 June 2012 I think they are treated a hell of a lot better than OAP's who have paid into a system all their lives and are now living on the breadline. Playstations and TV's? There is a difference between treating someone like a human being and rewarding murderer's. Did you conveniently miss the part that told you the prisoners are employed full-time on a weekly salary of £12, which they can use to pay for their TVs and consoles?
Captain... Posted 27 June 2012 Posted 27 June 2012 I don't get that list when I go to the Hilton! No, but you get to leave the Hilton and go outside and find your own entertainment. I am also hoping that most people that stay at the Hilton don't require courses in adult literacy and adult numeracy. If you read the content of the list and not just the length, they don't get a lot, they get access to sport facilities, health facilities, and cooking facilities, the rest of the list is all about rehabilitation and helping them become functioning members of society again. They get access to a playstation on enhanced, which I am guessing is used as a rewards, and a budgie. I like the fact they have a budgie, it's like looking after a small feather baby, it probably helps them to learn about responsibility and caring.
Raj Posted 27 June 2012 Posted 27 June 2012 Did you conveniently miss the part that told you the prisoners are employed full-time on a weekly salary of £12, which they can use to pay for their TVs and consoles? Bloody hell...Having to 'work' to buy luxury goods? Wow,its just like real life!!
simmo1977 Posted 27 June 2012 Posted 27 June 2012 Go out and ask young unemployed people who have never been in trouble how many of those facilities they have access to, or OAP's if they have access to health and fitness facilities. I have no problem with rehabilitation but there is a limit, and you shouldn't get any "rewards" for taking another life. If you had ever had a family member murdered then I would think you probably would have a different view.
AdamN Posted 27 June 2012 Posted 27 June 2012 If you read that list and find that lifestyle in any way desirable then I think you need to evaluate your own shitty life!
Guest MattP Posted 27 June 2012 Posted 27 June 2012 Did you conveniently miss the part that told you the prisoners are employed full-time on a weekly salary of £12, which they can use to pay for their TVs and consoles? Not a bad wage at all when a TV costs a pound a week and you get board, lodgings and 3 meals a day for nothing. No wonder the guy in the Stoke shirt said it was great and he'd rather be in than out.
simmo1977 Posted 27 June 2012 Posted 27 June 2012 If you read that list and find that lifestyle in any way desirable then I think you need to evaluate your own shitty life! I don't find it desireable at all, I'm sure there are a lot of people who have never done anything wrong though that would find it desirable. Did you conveniently miss the part that told you the prisoners are employed full-time on a weekly salary of £12, which they can use to pay for their TVs and consoles? No i didn't conveniently miss that part, but prison should be about punishment as well as rehabilitation.
Bellend Sebastian Posted 27 June 2012 Posted 27 June 2012 I don't have a Playstation, I'm going to kill someone just so I can get one. Sometimes I like to go out and stuff but I'd forego that in exchange for a games console, definitely. I'd need to check that the televisions are flat screen though, if there's any sign of a curve in the display then no deal. I'm a proper killer, the least I deserve is a decent telly
Raj Posted 27 June 2012 Posted 27 June 2012 If you read that list and find that lifestyle in any way desirable then I think you need to evaluate your own shitty life! Perhaps if they stayed on the straight and narrow like the majority of folk they wouldnt see telephones/visits/use of exercise equipment/help and advice etc... as luxury items.
simmo1977 Posted 27 June 2012 Posted 27 June 2012 Just as an example, take a homeless man, perhaps he lost his job wife etc and finds himself on the streets and sleeping rough. No money, no roof over his head, no food and no chances to improve his life, he's not broken the law at all but is in a bad way. And then take the guy on the program last night who said he had a feeling he was going to kill someone and it just happened to be a girl he sat next to in a kebab house. He's now having three meals a day, medical care, use of sports facilities, a playstation and studying for a degree in applied maths. I bet the homeless guy would look at that lifestyle and find it quite desirable. I just personally think we should look after decent, honest members of the community a lot better than people who have killed.
ScouseFox Posted 27 June 2012 Posted 27 June 2012 You must have a really shit life if you think being in prison is more enjoyable, more luxurious and more fun.
simmo1977 Posted 27 June 2012 Posted 27 June 2012 You must have a really shit life if you think being in prison is more enjoyable, more luxurious and more fun. See my example above scousefox.
Guest MattP Posted 27 June 2012 Posted 27 June 2012 You must have a really shit life if you think being in prison is more enjoyable, more luxurious and more fun. I donlt think anyone is saying it's preferable, just that they don't agree they should have access to the things they do have.
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