APPENDIX 70
Memorandum submitted by a perpetrator
I am serving a life sentence at ****
and write to you in your capacity of being the chair of the Select
Committee regarding the very serious issue of domestic violence.
I seen you speaking on Channel 4 news
today about the said subject and of the programmes available both
in and out of prison to help people address such issues.
I have been in a number of relationships
where I was abusive to my partners. I have served two prison sentences
for such abuse. I am truly ashamed of my past behaviours. I have
served 13 years of my life sentence and in 2005 I arrived here
and seen a poster on the wall advertising the "Healthy Relationships
Programme". I made enquiries about the programme and was
fortunate enough to get a place on the high intensity course last
year.
It was the most difficult six months
of my entire life (I am 47) but it was also the most worthwhile
six months as well. I was in a group of eight and found myself
not only facing up to the pain I had caused others but being able
to talk openly and honestly about the issues.
The staff who ran the programme were
so dedicated and supported me, and others, through some very difficult
sessions.
I had worked hard throughout my time
in prison to deal with my personal problems but at the end of
the Healthy Relationships Programme I was truly able to say that
my life had at last been completely turned around.
My family have commented on how they've
seen the changes in me after completing the programme.
The news item I referred to earlier was
quite right in saying that there is a lengthy waiting list for
spaces on the programme. I believe it only runs in five prisons
which is far from enough.
I hope that your committee can persude
the Government that this programme does very well and I am sure
that in future statistics will indeed show that it does actually
reduce offences of domestic violence.
I don't know if this feed-back will assist
you in any way but I thought it would be worthwhile to write and
tell you how valuable this programme is to prisoners. Hopefully
it will be available in more prisons in the near future.
Thank you for taking the time to read
my letter.
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