John Howard Essay Prize 2012
Profiting from punishment: should the private sector run children's prisons?
The Howard League for Penal Reform is pleased to announce the winners of the John Howard Essay Prize 2012. The competition was judged by Eric Allison, Prison Correspondent for the Guardian.
We invited students to submit an essay of not more than 1500 words discussing the privatisation of children's prisons. The winner in each category receives 100 and the runners-up will receive 50. Prizes will be presented by Eric Allison at the Howard League National Student Conference on Wednesday 21 November.
Undergraduate category
Winner: Emmeline Plews, University of Oxford
This is an exceptional essay; it presents a near flawless demolition of the argument for allowing the private sector to take charge of some of the most damaged and vulnerable children in our society. The author makes her case on moral and practical grounds, attacking the profit from punishment motivation of the companies involved and the lack of effective instruments of accountability from those the state has chosen to transfer responsibility to. A clinical assessment of why and how private jails fail is stapled with significant references to, and examples of, bad practice. This essay ought to be required reading for the policy makers who are steering our youngsters down the profit from punishment path.
Read Emmeline's essay
Runner up: Rachel Stuart, University of Kent
The author makes the important point that many young offenders were victims themselves before they created their own. All the more shameful then for the state to throw them to the 'private sector wolves, mindful only of profit'.
Read Rachel's essay
Highly commended: Jessica Bass, Open University
Two things struck me about this essay; the opening, which cleverly grabs the attention of the reader, and the reference to the huge disparity between the way the UK and our Scandinavian neighbours, Norway, treats young offenders.
Read Jessica's essay
Highly commended: Danielle Toomer, University of Winchester
This is a strong essay, which does not pull its punches in attacking the private sector jail industry. It's only fault, in my view, lies in its brevity.
Read Danielle's essay
Postgraduate category
Winner: Philippa Tomczak, University of Manchester
Finding a winner in this category was a difficult task. All the essays reached a high standard and I read-and re-read-them several times in search of the best. Finally, I chose this one because, in my view, it cuts to the very heart of the debate.
Of all the reasons, moral and practical, for opposing private prisons; profit from punishment, under trained, underpaid staff, et al; the strongest is the most simple. To quote this author: Rehabilitation and release is counter to the interests of private companies and to rehabilitate child prisoners does not make good business sense.
That is it, in a nutshell. That it is said in a well-researched, wide-ranging, essay gives the author the nod, in a highly competitive field.
Read Philippa's essay
Runner-up: Philippa Byrne, University of Oxford
It is a searing attack on the private sector's handling of the mainly vulnerable and troubled youngsters entrusted to its care. In highlighting the deaths of Adam Rickwood and Gareth Myatt, it evidences the truth behind the glossy brochures and slick websites of the multi-national penal companies that fail our children so badly. One line alone the best in all the entries deserves a prize: the two boys, aged 15 and 15 respectively, died because, nobody was watching.
Read Philippa's essay
Highly commended: Henry Mance, BPP
This is a well-balanced, concise essay, which covers all the issues surrounding private sector jails and weaves them into a cogent and detailed narrative. The argument is best summed up in the closing line: If we take children's best interests seriously, these reforms not the profit motive should be the priority. Amen.
Read Henry's essay
Highly commended: Elaine Freer, University of Cambridge
What impressed me about this essay was the author's in depth knowledge of the way private prisons actually operate. Her exploration of the 'secret scourge' of these jails; the trade-offs between staff and inmates; the buying of compliance is spot on. And the homicides listed create a stark illustration of where such practises can lead. Why let the private purveyors loose on children indeed?
Read Elaine's essay
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