A former detainee told a debate at Good Morning Britain that yelling at detainees violates their human rights and does not aid rehabilitation.
Former gang member Nequela Whittaker appeared on Good Morning England on Tuesday with former prison governor Vanesa Frank-Harris, and she says the only way to get orders is to yell at inmates.
It comes after a plan to rehabilitate inmates by teaching them to cook was set to expand to more prisons, after reports denounced the way officers yelled at criminals, saying they didn’t show them the necessary respect.
Former gang member Nequela Whittaker arrived in Good Morning Britain on Tuesday to discuss whether yelling at detainees violates their human rights.
“I didn’t even go to work in 30 years because I thought I was yelling at people,” Vanesa said.
He explained that because prison is a naturally noisy environment, the guards had to shout to be heard.
Prison is a noisy place by nature, you have keys swinging and doors slamming into a grand piano. [with] 300 prisoners running around and screaming, not wanting to be there.
“And there are times when you have to call the inmates for visits or the gym or something.”
Former prison governor Vanesa Frank-Harris said the only way to give orders is to yell at inmates.
The author revealed that prison staff do not discipline prisoners by shouting and are trained to treat people with respect.
As Nequela suggests, there’s a difference between raising your voice and shouting in a way that “suppresses” someone else.
He said: ‘You suppress someone’s voice too much to have that trust within the prison system.
“The way the message is delivered, when that person yells, screams, knocks him down, demonizes him, that’s not reform, so from my point of view it’s not best practice for that guard to get the most out of it. †
Nequela explained that she believed it was never appropriate to scream because the inmate was already traumatized and was looking for someone she could trust.
Nequela explained that she believed it was never appropriate to scream because the inmate was already traumatized and was looking for someone she could trust.
He stressed that if the detainees could not trust the officials, they could not seek their help in their reform.
The controversy came after an official report to HMP Winchester condemned the way officers yelled at criminals, even at close range, and called them by surname only for failing to show them due respect.
Research led by Prison Superintendent Charlie Taylor said: “Staff were shouting ‘Exercise’ and other orders unnecessarily loudly when they were near their addressees.
“Not only was this unnecessary, it also demonstrated a lack of understanding of the effect of screaming on people who have been traumatized in the past.”
The author revealed that the prison staff do not shout at the prisoners and give disciplinary punishment, and that the prison staff are trained to treat the prisoners with respect.
The report added that detainees are “expected” to be “treated with respect by staff throughout their detention”.
Despite criticism of the guard, most inmates – 57% – believed that prison staff treated them with respect.
Viewers were unimpressed, and one person on social media said, “The poor prisoners are already traumatized. Already three meals a day were punished by a hot room. More than many people. We must make prisons a deterrent and as uncomfortable as possible.
Another said, “Communication does not communicate by screaming. As a former probation officer, I was verbally abused and shouted at me, but I did not respond. In summary, ‘I am here, you are in’, the cries ceased. Stress relief techniques avoid using screams to communicate!! ‘
“It’s okay for prisoners to scream of torture, be mistreated or even kill their victims, but they don’t like being scolded,” said another.
Viewers were unimpressed and split on social media, with one person saying inmates should be happy with three meals a day and a warm room.
Source: Daily Mail
