Lecture 6: Prison Abolition

Question 1

What issue does the example of HMP Berwyn highlight regarding prison reform?

Answer 1

Prisoners isolated from families

Question 2

What do abolitionists see as a key failing of reformist changes?

Answer 2

Strengthening legitimacy of imprisonment

Question 3

What argument suggests reforms reinforce prison rationales?

Answer 3

They expand systems without changing core functions

Question 4

The crisis of conditions 3 main reforms:

Answer 4

• Improvements post- Woolf
• Smarter and better prisons
• Importance of rehabilitation

Question 5

Criticism of the crisis of conditions reforms:

Answer 5

Location still an issue

Question 6

What problem’s can reform solve?

Answer 6

• Number crisis
• Crisis of injustice
• Crisis of conditions

Question 7

Crisis of injustice reform:

Answer 7

Procedural fairness and decent living conditions

Question 8

Criticism of crisis of injustice reform:

Answer 8

Prisoners have legitimate expectation to be treated fairly BUT not an absolute legal right to be treated humanely

Question 9

What term describes repeated ineffective reforms?

Answer 9

Penal treadmill

Question 10

What do attempts at penal reform tend to do?

Answer 10

Reproduce the prison and consolidate its rationale and form, rather than transforming it

Question 11

Have how reforms failed?

Answer 11

• Become tedious/ monotonous
• Based on same techniques and knowledge
• Result is the production of homologous prisons

Question 12

Why is reformism seen as MAD and FUTILE?

Answer 12

Because its repeating the same action but expecting a different result

Question 13

What argument do abolitionists make regarding criminal justice fairness?

Answer 13

Social inequalities skew practices and outcomes

Question 14

How do abolitionists see reformist changes to prisons and criminal justice?

Answer 14

As strengthening resilience of flawed systems

Question 15

What term refers to reforms designed to undermine systems?

Answer 15

Non-reformist reforms

Question 16

What “non-reformist” response do abolitionists recommend to overcrowding?

Answer 16

Immediate prisoner releases

Question 17

What stance does penal reductionism take?

Answer 17

Reducing use but improving prisons

Question 18

What argument opposes total abolition of prisons?

Answer 18

Some grounds for confinement existing

Question 19

Whats a Durkheimian argument for reform?

Answer 19

A nexus of prison reform

Question 20

What problems can reform solve?

Answer 20

• The number crisis
• Crisis of conditions
• Crisis of injustice

Question 21

What attachment is there to prisons?

Answer 21

Imprisonment as a social institution

Question 22

What does prison abolition question?

Answer 22

Questions the efficacy, morality of incarceration

Question 23

Reforms often fail to reduce prison use because they:

Answer 23

Expand systems without changing functions

Question 24

Which stance sees changes as strengthening prison legitimacy?

Answer 24

Abolitionist

Question 25

‘Non-reformist’ reforms are intended to:

Answer 25

Undermine and shrink harmful systems

Question 26

What change do abolitionists want regarding crime?

Answer 26

Structural reforms

Question 27

Which view sees sentencing policies as skewed by inequalities?

Answer 27

Marxist

Question 28

Penal reductionism argues for:

Answer 28

Restricting then reforming imprisonment

Question 29

Reforms often expand prison systems while failing to:

Answer 29

Reduce overcrowding and scale

Question 30

Abolitionists want:

Answer 30

Investments in alternative responses

Question 31

Why do abolitionists oppose most reformist changes?

Answer 31

They reinforce prison rationale

Question 32

Which view sees social inequalities affecting criminalization?

Answer 32

Marxism

Question 33

What change to overcrowding do abolitionists want?

Answer 33

Immediate prisoner releases

Question 34

Penal reductionism argues for:

Answer 34

Restricting prisons before improving them

Question 35

Why do abolitionists see reformist changes as problematic?

Answer 35

They reinforce legitimacy of imprisonment

Question 36

Which view sees criminal justice systems as inherently skewed?

Answer 36

Abolitionist

Question 37

‘Non-reformist’ reforms are intended to:

Answer 37

Undermine and shrink harmful systems

Question 38

What core change do abolitionists want regarding crime?

Answer 38

Structural reforms

Question 39

Why can't criminal justice systems be fair according to abolitionists?

Answer 39

Social inequalities skew practices

Question 40

Penal reductionism supports:

Answer 40

Restricting imprisonment before reforming it

Question 41

Many reforms fail to reduce overcrowding and scale because they:

Answer 41

Expand flawed systems

Question 42

Which view criticizes reforms strengthening prison legitimacy?

Answer 42

Abolitionist

Question 43

What mechanisms lead to marginalized groups being criminalized according to abolitionists?

Answer 43

Institutions advancing interests

Question 44

Why can prisons not be made fully humane or legitimate according to abolitionists?

Answer 44

Power dynamics are inherent

Question 45

Penal reductionism wants:

Answer 45

Some continued imprisonment after restrictions

Question 46

Reforms often perpetuate prisons by:

Answer 46

Failing to address root causes

Question 47

Abolitionists believe sustainable change requires:

Answer 47

Challenging assumptions about crime

Question 48

Which view sees specific reforms as strengthening resilience of imprisonment?

Answer 48

Abolitionist

Question 49

What mechanisms sustain flawed criminal justice systems according to abolitionists?

Answer 49

Institutional self-interest

Question 50

Penal reductionism wants initial:

Answer 50

Restriction of imprisonment

Question 51

Sustainable change requires challenging assumptions about:

Answer 51

The nature of crime itself

Question 52

Reformist changes often perpetuate imprisonment by:

Answer 52

Increasing system capacity and budgets

Question 53

What does Martin et al 2014 state the prison emphasises?

Answer 53

‘The problematic and illegitimate aspects of control – the inherently problematic power dynamics affecting those whose lives are touched by the prison experience’

Question 54

What does Ryan and Sim 2007 argue is needed for reform?

Answer 54

‘Reforms have consistently worked to expand rather than reduce prisons. What is needed are strategies that denaturalise the prison and move towards a radical reduction in the use of imprisonment' - Reform only helps to strengthen the prison and make it more resilient

Question 55

Examples of 3 non-reformist reform strategies:

Answer 55

- Work to reduce the size, scope, and power of the system ​ - Challenge the assumptions that underpin and sustain the system​ - Link to a wider vision of change that will reduce our reliance on prisons​

Question 56

What would traditional reformers do for problems caused by ageing prison population?

Answer 56

Call for new funding for specialised services. ​

Question 57

What would abolitionists do for problems caused by overcrowding?

Answer 57

Push for early or compassionate release - not as easy as you think it is - what do we want prisons to do?​

Question 58

What did Frances cook argue for penal reductionism? What should we start with doing?

Answer 58

Prisons are “fundamentally unjust”, requiring a “radical overhaul, starting with a swingeing reduction in the number of people we imprison”

Question 59

Arguing for the total abolition of prisons is thought to be a hopelessly x goal?

Answer 59

Utopian goal

Question 60

What are two problems of non-reformist reforms?

Answer 60

- Problems caused by the ageing prison population - Problems caused by overcrowding