Law students teach prisoners about parole process

Students visited HMP The Mount to speak to inmates

Law students were granted access into a prison to help inmates better understand the parole system.

A team from Hertfordshire Law School, which is part of the University of Hertfordshire, conducted three workshops with 20 male prisoners at HMP The Mount in Hemel Hempstead.

The prisoners took part in a mock oral hearing so they could see the process from the perspective of the parole board.

"Most prisoners have little knowledge of the parole process despite spending years in prison," said Zaherah Saghir, senior lecturer at the law school.

"There are more than an average proportion of prisoners with learning difficulties such as dyslexia, so they need extra guidance with completing forms and understanding their parole dossier."

The students hope giving people in prison a better understanding of the process could reduce reoffending and ease overcrowding in prisons.

Student Austin Lutwyche (left) said the experience improved his public speaking abilities. He is pictured (left to right) with fellow students Veronica Slavova, Saddam Rafique and Muhammad Jawad Haider.

With help from the students, the inmates drafted written representations on behalf of a fictional prisoner eligible for parole.

During the mock hearing they were each assigned a role such as parole board member, probation officer or legal representative.

In feedback given to the university, the prisoners said the process gave them a better understanding of the parole process.

Ms Saghir added: "This exercise has been a significant eye-opener for the prisoners, all of whom expressed that they now feel better informed about the parole process."

Second year student Austin Lutwyche, from Cheshunt, said students had also benefited from the experience.

He explained: "The project has helped me to understand the life of prisoners and the process they undertake to get parole.

"This has led me to develop my public speaking skills which allow me to make any adjustments while I am working with the inmates."