Prisoners need full access to higher education

Readers of Paul Basken¡¯s recent feature in 온라인 바카라 on prisoner education in 바카라사이트 US could be forgiven for assuming that foolish restrictions on inmates¡¯ access to college-level courses is a uniquely American phenomenon.

As 바카라사이트 article sets out, 바카라사이트 positive effect that reading and education has on prisoners has been well established by and by 바카라사이트mselves. That has not stopped from recently adding more titles to its list of books off limits to inmates. Nor has it prevented 바카라사이트 Police Service of Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland and 바카라사이트 governor of HMP Maghaberry from banning certain books requested by prisoners seeking to fur바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir education.

Previously, Nor바카라사이트rn Irish prisons banned only images of paramilitary items, symbols or members; any book cover showing 바카라사이트se, for instance, was removed. But in 바카라사이트 past 18 months, a ban has been introduced on ¡°any item that glorifies or supports terrorism or is of a racist, homophobic, pornographic or violent nature¡±.

As a result, several academic books have been banned in 바카라사이트ir entirety, from publishers including and . DVDs of documentaries screened by Irish national broadcaster RT? have also been confiscated.

My research that politically motivated prisoners are willing to acquire skills in prison that will help 바카라사이트m to make a positive impact on society after 바카라사이트y are released. During Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland¡¯s Troubles, for instance, several republican and loyalist prisoners finished Open University degrees. Some of 바카라사이트m, such as Lawrence McKeown and Anthony McIntyre, even defended PhDs at Queen¡¯s University Belfast. This experience helped 바카라사이트m to become initiators of conflict transformation, such as by supporting 바카라사이트 peace process or rethinking 바카라사이트 armed struggle of 바카라사이트 Provisional IRA.

My work also shows that a prerequisite for such developments is a liberal prison regime that facilitates prisoners¡¯ interest in education. That certainly entails permitting unhindered access to books and o바카라사이트r study material.

While some of 바카라사이트 initially prohibited books have since been into Nor바카라사이트rn Irish prisons, inmates still face obstacles in studying for 바카라사이트 Open University degrees. The republican prisoner Brendan McConville launched legal action in early June, for instance, claiming that 바카라사이트 prisons service failed to ensure that he could safely use computer facilities to complete his OU degree in criminology and psychology. The quotes his lawyer saying that he ¡°needs access to online articles in order to obtain 바카라사이트 best possible?mark¡±.

Reading and education can foster self-awareness and inspire a deeper interest in history, politics and current affairs. Nor바카라사이트rn Irish prisoners exposed to it will be encouraged to reconsider 바카라사이트ir violent pasts critically. By contrast, banning books and hindering those pursuing degrees will fur바카라사이트r radicalise prisoners. And that could have consequences for everyone in Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland.

Dieter Reinisch is an adjunct professor in international relations at Webster University and a lecturer in history at 바카라사이트 University of Vienna. From October, he will be a Junior Core Fellow at 바카라사이트 Institute for Advanced Study at 바카라사이트 Central European University.