As that rare jailbird, a Cambridge criminologist sentenced to 18 months for growing cannabis, I became a direct participant-observer of exactly the faults in penal policy which Simon Jenkins points to (Opinion, May 18). About 50% of my fellow inmates were functionally illiterate and a similar proportion mentally or emotionally disturbed, with horrendous childhood backstories. They were the recipients of medieval treatment, guaranteeing the revolving door after release, their future unemployment chances crippled by “prison” stamped on their CVs. Not that Latin acronyms are most cons’ forte. My lowest moment was asking a suicidal young guy’s age and place of birth while helping him with form-filling: “I dunno. They never told me.” Later in my cell I wept.
Rod Read
Sutton, Cambridgeshire
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