Before Prison, Instead of Prison, Better Than Prison: Therapeutic Communities as an Abolitionist Real Utopia?

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to critically engage with the idea that Therapeutic Communities (TCs) can be promoted in England and Wales as a radical alternative to prison for substance users who have broken the law. After grounding the discussion within the normative framework of an 'abolitionist real utopia' (Scott 2013), the article explores the historical and theoretical underpinnings of TCs. Existing literature advocating TCs as a radical alternative both before and instead of prison is then reviewed, followed by a critical reflection of the TCs compatibility with the broader values and principles of an abolitionist real utopia. To conclude, the article suggests that, although TCs could be a plausible and historically immanent non-penal real utopia for certain people in certain circumstances, we must not lose focus of wider social inequalities.

Putting ‘Justice’ in Recovery Capital: Yarning about Hopes and Futures with Young People in Detention

“…Many obstacles can stand in the way of recovery, which is a problem that creates what Cloud and Granfield (2009) refer to as 'negative recovery capital'. Justice-involved individuals, particularly those with additional problems such as addiction, can be negatively labelled (Dingle et al 2014), experience stigma and marginalisation (Scott and Gosling 2016) and thus be excluded from various forms of social and community capital. Moreover, some groups in communities do not have a positive effect on physical or psychological wellbeing, or the recovery process (Haslam et al 2012;Jetten et al 2014;Best and Savic 2015).…”

Perspectives on recidivists: the views of detainees, the general public and people working with offenders

“…The education courses could be aimed particularly at helping detainees to think about their abilities and the consequences of things they have done. Such activities could be chosen to overcome prejudices and/or stereotypes and to identify common strategies between the place of detention and the community outside with the view of working towards social reintegration (Gelsthorpe and Rex 2004;Iudici, Alborghetti and Ferri 2017;Iudici and Maiocchi 2014;Scott and Gosling 2016;Seiter and Kadela 2003). In keeping with this, we stress the importance of legislation, particularly the use of alternative measures, or the creation of interventions which could build bridges between work in prison and release, or the creation of halfway structures so that the detainee can deal successfully with release from prison and possible reoffending (Clear 2009;Dembo et al 2008;Faccio and Costa 2013;Hancock and Raeside 2009;Smith 2015;Wodahl and Garland 2009).…”

Development of Restorative Justice in China: Theory and Practice

“…Alternative responses to crime and social disorder must be able to engage with the problems and possibilities of the historical moment and at the same time challenge the punitive ideologies that leave the social wound open (Scott and Gosling 2016). The development of restorative justice in China has the right historical moment with the political need for a harmonious society and legal need for efficiency.…”