In his latest article for The Guardian, Mark revisits his concerns over the Independent Safeguarding Authority, highlighting that its vetting scheme will bar the right people from helping offenders.
Read the full article at www.guardian.co.uk.
In his latest article for The Guardian, Mark talks about the idea of power-sharing in prison, highlighting prison councils as “an opportunity for the heart to talk to the head. Staff and prisoners will unite to express their views. They will offer a channel for the hidden people at society’s extremities to articulate how they can help, and be helped, to change”.
Read the full article at www.guardian.co.uk.
In his latest article for The Guardian, Mark talks about the Baby P case, and the mirror it holds up to all of us in our “dysfunctional society breeding dysfunctional individuals who breed still more”.
Read the full article at www.guardian.co.uk.
In a new article for The Guardian, Mark discusses the problems faced by ex-offenders with limited choices and resources in the face of the often tough rules imposed on them on release from prison.
In his latest Guardian column, published today, Mark explains how it’s personal communication that offers the best way for youth and social workers to make a real difference in the lives of youngsters branded by society as ‘offenders’:
“At a conference recently, I learned that the people who are supposed to be “managing” our offenders now spend up to 80% of their time in front of a computer. Too much passion and enthusiasm ends up channelled into an office, not with the people who need human contact.”
Read the full article at www.guardian.co.uk.
This picture was taken on Mark’s recent visit to Gloucester Prison — where he served time — as part of the Cheltenham Literature Festival.
“Our schools curriculum is designed by the middle classes, delivered by them, and is successful primarily for the middle classes.”
This is an article Mark wrote for The Big Issue
There’s a place, and it really does exist, which has four political parties. Each one stands for a different aspect of social reform. Each one agrees wholeheartedly with the aims of the others. All four work together for the greater good without political infighting or the usual point-scoring shenanigans. No, don’t pack your bags. You don’t want to go there. And the people who live there just want to get out.
“I’m beginning to wonder if it might be possible that we’ll be allowed to help make the criminal justice system more humane, productive, and rehabilitation-based.” Read Mark’s thoughts on the criminal justice system in a new article for the Guardian newspaper.