Grendon Tales

For anyone trying to understand what 'drives' some people to commit serious, heinous and sometimes unspeakable crimes - and what is achievable through therapy - the first-hand 'tales' in this book merit close study. For over forty years Grendon Prison with its 'Therapuetic Communities' of high security 'residents' has remained unique among Britain's prisons. In 2000 researcher Ursula Smartt was given extensive access to interview residents and prison staff - governors, prison officers, therapists and probation officers - and to observe their day-to-day routines. The result is Grendon Tales, a perceptive, insightful and at times shocking account of life inside a unique and world famous establishment. Grendon houses many dangerous, disturbed and disruptive criminals (ranging from armed robbers to paedophiles, to rapists and murderers). For many of them, it is 'the last chance saloon' - a final opportunity to alter their thinking patterns and behaviour and maybe to convince the authorities that their security category should be downgraded with a view to future safe release back into the community.