The Abolitionist No 10 (1982)
Introduction/ Commentary by John Moore
This edition focused on “dangerous” people. The opening article looks at a recently published Howard League report Dangerousness and Criminal Justice which was hoping by defining “dangerousness” that it would be possible to imprison non-dangerous people less often and for less time. Looking back on this it is clear that, despite their good intentions, this Howard League intervention has contributed greatly to penal expansion, in particular under New Labour. In particular, its logic underpins the IPP sentences which have seen thousands of people caged indefinitely. Indeed the Abolitionist review foresaw this outcome when it observed that: ‘Judges will naturally tend to impose the longest sentences they think the “public interest” could possibly demand, in the confidence that the offender will be released as early as it’s safe to do so.’
RAP’s Sex Offences Group’s response to a Government consultation on rape laws is included in this edition. This along with other contributions from the Sex Offences Group (see nos 9, 11) show how abolitionists can struggle with dealing with the “What about the rapists” question and, in this case, conceded the need for short prison sentences. However, as these readings from Abolitionist Futures’ reading group show, abolitionist thinking has developed considerably over the last forty years.
The consequences of the concept of “dangerousness” are highlighted by articles on the use of restraints in prison; on the notorious ‘Control Units’ and on Psychiatric Secure Units. There is a critical evaluation of the so-called independent Boards of Visitors - “The Dogs don’t Bark”. And on a more positive note, two short articles on RAP alternatives - The Second Chance Project and Brighton Alternatives to Prison Project, both good examples of mutual aid projects from the 1980s. As well as book reviews where Jane Root writes about “INSIDE”, the season of prison films RAP sponsored at the National Film Theatre; Joe Sim on the Prison Officers' Association (POA); and Geoff Coggan (of PROP) on politicians, judges and prison policy.