title: The potential of prison-based democratic therapeutic communities.
abstract: Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe the work of HMP Grendon, the only prison in the UK to operate entirely as a series of democratic therapeutic communities and to summarise the research of its effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach The paper is both descriptive, providing an overview of the work of a prison-based therapeutic community, and offers a literature review regarding evidence of effectiveness. Findings The work of HMP Grendon has a wide range of positive benefits including reduced levels of disruption in prison, reduced self-harm, improved well-being, an environment that is experienced as more humane and reduced levels of reoffending. Originality/value The work of HMP Grendon offers a well established and evidenced approach to managing men who have committed serious violent and sexually violent offences. It also promotes and embodies a progressive approach to managing prisons rooted in the welfare tradition.
authors.affiliation: HM Prison Grendon and Springhill, Aylesbury, UK.|University of Oxford , Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: HM Prison Grendon and Springhill, Aylesbury, UK.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shuker
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D015279:Organizational Culture; D011329:Prisoners; D011330:Prisons / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013808:Therapeutic Community; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Criminal justice system; Prison; Prison psychiatry; Prisoners; Psychological health; Rehabilitation