Prison Issues – Sharing research with China

Dr Elaine Crawley, Director of the University's Centre for Prison Studies (SUCPS) recently ran a training event with a difference. This particular event was for a delegation from China's Zhejiang Provincial Prison Administrative Bureau, via Sino-Bridge International.

Sino-Bridge International is an independent organisation based in both London and Beijing, which is officially approved by China's State Administration of Foreign Expert Affairs to be a facilitator for UK visits by Chinese officials at all levels.

Through discussions between Elaine and the Training Manager of Sino-Bridge International, the Centre for Prison Studies was chosen to arrange this event on the basis of its reputation for research expertise in the field of prison staff training, and because of its capacity to host thought-provoking seminars and conferences on contemporary prison issues.

Drawing on the expertise and goodwill of a range of local practitioners and academics, the Centre was able to provide a very varied panel of speakers and a series of lectures on prison management, prison practices and staff training. Speakers included colleagues from both within the University and from the University of Manchester, as well as from four prisons in the North West (HMP Manchester, HMP Risley, HMP Styal and HMP Forest Bank). The Chinese delegation was headed by Deputy Director Mr. Yu Zhenhua who was accompanied by 25 senior administrators and prison Governors from more than 10 prisons in the Zhejiang Province, including the female Governor of the Women's Prison of Zhejiang.

Over the visit, presentations were made on some of the most important aspects of prison management, including offender management; mental healthcare; working with juveniles, foreign national prisoners and women prisoners with babies; prison officer work spill-over and stress; prisoner suicide; problems relating to resettlement and the issue of human rights in prison. The event also included a presentation by the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB), an organization which monitors prison conditions, decency and standards of care, along with visits to HMP Manchester, HMPYOI Thorn Cross and HMP Forest Bank.

The key purpose of the event was for the Chinese delegation to learn more about the prisons of England and Wales, and their management, and the ways in which problems and issues are experienced and resolved, through the event's wide ranging discussions about relative prison practices and policies much was learned by both parties.  Elaine said:  "I am delighted that the Centre for Prison Studies was selected as the most appropriate host for this prestigious event, and look forward to future ventures with our new colleagues".