EX-PRISONERS FIND A HOME Oliver Stott writes about the THE LANGLEY HOUSE TRUST was formed
in 1957 by members of Christian Teamwork who were concerned about the reform and rehabilitation of discharged prisoners. The Trustees are a solicitor, a barrister and three company directors, who had previously been concerned with prison visiting, membership of Discharged Prisoners Aid committees and helping individual ex-prisoners. They decided that the greatest need was for a place in which ex-prisoners could live, in a community life which was as much as possible like that of an ordinary home. "House-parents" were to be appointed, to take a very personal interest in each man, to be always available for advice, and to exert an unobtrusive general influence. At this time, there were no similar places in operation, except for the first Norman House. Otherwise, the nearest thing was a Salvation Army or Church Army Hostel.
Acceptance If there
was
to
be
life, and if men were tated, they would have
a
co-operative
to be rehabilito be accepted
This meant that the homes would have to exclude homosexuals, most alcoholics and men with records of violent behaviour or offences against children. Those who wanted accommodation therefore had to be visited well before their discharge from prison. John Dodd was appointed General Secretary of the Trust, and from his own experience as a P.O.W. of the Japanese and as a visitor at Parkhurst Prison he had great insight into the problems and attitudes of the men to be helped. Further development of the work called for the appointment of a Welfare Secretary to visit prisons, interview men recommended for Langley and consult with the prison staff. His other responsibilities include keep-
by
the
neighbouring community.
Langley
House
Tr^'
in touch with former residents, with the wives of separated men, # reconciliation might be possible. The first house was formerly a sfl1' private hotel at Otterbourne in Harf ^ shire. This was a small town, faif' near to industrial areas. No planfli5 permission was needed, which nW well have been a trigger for opposition. The home had room i' fifteen men, and took some months fill up. But there was some press a radio publicity, which resulted in B Tree Cottage, on the northern 0 skirts of Bradford, being let to 1 Trust on a long lease. This had aboc seventeen places and has been usP mainly for younger men. The Home Mission Department the Methodist Church then had a 1? at the work being done in these places, and at the end of 1962 boi# a house in Reading which had bee used as a students' hostel. In the flv year, Cheltenham Council of decided to sponsor a "Langley" hoi", and leased a mid-Victorian vicars with a large garden. The rather stitutional atmosphere of this ho11 is counteracted by the three lively small daughters. This ta* and though tbe seventeen men, would be room for more, a lar$, number could mean that the fa A1', spirit would be lost. The fifth ho" ( was then opened at Poole in 1964. take thirteen men, and one has be
ing
206
Churc^
house-pare^,
at Rochester specially young people discharged from detc 1 tion centres and borstals. It is hoped get this working almost All these houses are in reasona^. good residential areas, as we felt it ^ best to keep the men away from temptations of downtown big-city 1? Local residents have all been most aftei their initial fears ba operative after been relieved.
bought
immediately
in
Very special specia qualities the
were
nee?
house-parents, particularly
?e
even more than her husshe must have the ability to and help the men, and must be constantly available. The work is with breakfast to provide 6.0 a.m., the evening meal at " P-m., supper at 9.0 p.m., and sandches to prepare for the following V. L Seven years' experience has shown it is a mistake to try to skimp in Provision of staff; they should not fr e*hausted when the men come home work. Some residents have tr Utiles to share then, and time is ^ so ^at can done without^ u hurry. Lights are out at 11.30 p.m. there is enough accommodatio the ideal is to have two married c Pks at each house. This facilitates fr time, which is vital in this type ^ork. The presence of small childre is very valuable in promoting a ly J^ly atmosphere and helping men 0 are emotionally withdrawn. Whilst ^ are fully committed Christians, residents are not required to have a jp y .Particular interest in religion. inly prayers?usually after supper quite optional, and an average of the men attend. It is y encouraging that though there H-a a shortage of suitable houseat one ^is's no l?n?er so L SOrr>e couples are actually waiting
Mother;
j
:a.^ePt
^eXacting, '
.
period of stay limits the numbers who be taken in. Though no extravaare made of success, there have been gratifying responses, particularly from recidivists?even some with up to fifty convictions. Results from four homes over the past fifteen months are as follows:
can
gant claims
Number of residents
tiat
ge
0j.are
cerf0l?e"third
pas
^ndents
268
tions
13
3 months Average length of stay Known to be making good 107
progress
Re-convicted No recent news
ofe
th!Sta?
...
(71 having come direct from Court, thereby being saved a further sentence) Average number of convic-
...
Died
...
75 85 1
Future Plans A Langley home for ex-Borstal boys is in an advanced stage of planning at Coventry. This is purpose-designed, and will have plenty of recreation space, as well as outside accommodation for repairing and maintaining motor-cycles. Enough funds have also been raised to buy a house in North
Lancashire.
Up to now we have always planned reclaiming men and restoring them to society. But we have been ina local management Co^ach which meets there, gener- creasingly conscious that this has exajr^ittee, y cluded many men in prison who did ic about once a month. Its job is to not fit into such a concept. One of our P the with any probI house-parents that arise and to supervise main criteria for selection has been may j0^s arrangements generally. The whether a man can work consistently t^e enough to support himself, both in the re ^bers of these committees feel a p
Posts. house has
to visit the house and to ta]P?nsibility Personal interest in how the
?Vh
a
lclents
are
Results
getting
on.
first that six eight tye\Was hoped Langley home would be at
'n
etio
to
a
to fit a man to move off then
t0
sh stable digs. In fact, experience has Wn all ^ ^at a Vear is not to? much to for many men to reach this
then a fairly close link is needed for those who single. Of course, this longer
4%and an8ley
even
?
207
for
and when he leaves us. But welfare officers are becoming more aware that no one is trying to grapple realistically with the desperate problems of alcoholics, psychopaths, sexual deviationists, etc. There is also great hope for helping men whose chief trouble is a basic inadequacy? of physical or psychological origin? which never allows them really to fit into society. Many of them increase their difficulties through anti-social habits but, basically, they are just helpless and hopeless home
prison
.
To deal with these men, a fully residential home would be needed, where there would be a variety of activities and they would not be required to go out to work at first. We are considering whether this should be the next step for the Langley House Trust. It would be hoped that the support and encouragement of such a home would bring out latent confidence and skill, so that the ex-prisoner would then be able to be transferred to one of our normal homes.
We also plan to set aside one b? ?probably at Cheltenham?where can give a measure of practical trJ ing to staff before they settle into1
after. But Government gfi for this kind of work and the gap ?2,000 a year for each house betvf residential fees and costs is met entif' by generous subscribers. Our fur'"1 developments will therefore depe greatly on what financial help receive. home they are present there is
to look
no
in 1957 by members of Christian Teamwork who were concerned about the reform and rehabilitation of discharged prisoners. The Trustees are a solicitor, a barrister and three company directors, who had previously been concerned with prison visiting, membership of Discharged Prisoners Aid committees and helping individual ex-prisoners. They decided that the greatest need was for a place in which ex-prisoners could live, in a community life which was as much as possible like that of an ordinary home. "House-parents" were to be appointed, to take a very personal interest in each man, to be always available for advice, and to exert an unobtrusive general influence. At this time, there were no similar places in operation, except for the first Norman House. Otherwise, the nearest thing was a Salvation Army or Church Army Hostel.
Acceptance If there
was
to
be
life, and if men were tated, they would have
a
co-operative
to be rehabilito be accepted
This meant that the homes would have to exclude homosexuals, most alcoholics and men with records of violent behaviour or offences against children. Those who wanted accommodation therefore had to be visited well before their discharge from prison. John Dodd was appointed General Secretary of the Trust, and from his own experience as a P.O.W. of the Japanese and as a visitor at Parkhurst Prison he had great insight into the problems and attitudes of the men to be helped. Further development of the work called for the appointment of a Welfare Secretary to visit prisons, interview men recommended for Langley and consult with the prison staff. His other responsibilities include keep-
by
the
neighbouring community.
Langley
House
Tr^'
in touch with former residents, with the wives of separated men, # reconciliation might be possible. The first house was formerly a sfl1' private hotel at Otterbourne in Harf ^ shire. This was a small town, faif' near to industrial areas. No planfli5 permission was needed, which nW well have been a trigger for opposition. The home had room i' fifteen men, and took some months fill up. But there was some press a radio publicity, which resulted in B Tree Cottage, on the northern 0 skirts of Bradford, being let to 1 Trust on a long lease. This had aboc seventeen places and has been usP mainly for younger men. The Home Mission Department the Methodist Church then had a 1? at the work being done in these places, and at the end of 1962 boi# a house in Reading which had bee used as a students' hostel. In the flv year, Cheltenham Council of decided to sponsor a "Langley" hoi", and leased a mid-Victorian vicars with a large garden. The rather stitutional atmosphere of this ho11 is counteracted by the three lively small daughters. This ta* and though tbe seventeen men, would be room for more, a lar$, number could mean that the fa A1', spirit would be lost. The fifth ho" ( was then opened at Poole in 1964. take thirteen men, and one has be
ing
206
Churc^
house-pare^,
at Rochester specially young people discharged from detc 1 tion centres and borstals. It is hoped get this working almost All these houses are in reasona^. good residential areas, as we felt it ^ best to keep the men away from temptations of downtown big-city 1? Local residents have all been most aftei their initial fears ba operative after been relieved.
bought
immediately
in
Very special specia qualities the
were
nee?
house-parents, particularly
?e
even more than her husshe must have the ability to and help the men, and must be constantly available. The work is with breakfast to provide 6.0 a.m., the evening meal at " P-m., supper at 9.0 p.m., and sandches to prepare for the following V. L Seven years' experience has shown it is a mistake to try to skimp in Provision of staff; they should not fr e*hausted when the men come home work. Some residents have tr Utiles to share then, and time is ^ so ^at can done without^ u hurry. Lights are out at 11.30 p.m. there is enough accommodatio the ideal is to have two married c Pks at each house. This facilitates fr time, which is vital in this type ^ork. The presence of small childre is very valuable in promoting a ly J^ly atmosphere and helping men 0 are emotionally withdrawn. Whilst ^ are fully committed Christians, residents are not required to have a jp y .Particular interest in religion. inly prayers?usually after supper quite optional, and an average of the men attend. It is y encouraging that though there H-a a shortage of suitable houseat one ^is's no l?n?er so L SOrr>e couples are actually waiting
Mother;
j
:a.^ePt
^eXacting, '
.
period of stay limits the numbers who be taken in. Though no extravaare made of success, there have been gratifying responses, particularly from recidivists?even some with up to fifty convictions. Results from four homes over the past fifteen months are as follows:
can
gant claims
Number of residents
tiat
ge
0j.are
cerf0l?e"third
pas
^ndents
268
tions
13
3 months Average length of stay Known to be making good 107
progress
Re-convicted No recent news
ofe
th!Sta?
...
(71 having come direct from Court, thereby being saved a further sentence) Average number of convic-
...
Died
...
75 85 1
Future Plans A Langley home for ex-Borstal boys is in an advanced stage of planning at Coventry. This is purpose-designed, and will have plenty of recreation space, as well as outside accommodation for repairing and maintaining motor-cycles. Enough funds have also been raised to buy a house in North
Lancashire.
Up to now we have always planned reclaiming men and restoring them to society. But we have been ina local management Co^ach which meets there, gener- creasingly conscious that this has exajr^ittee, y cluded many men in prison who did ic about once a month. Its job is to not fit into such a concept. One of our P the with any probI house-parents that arise and to supervise main criteria for selection has been may j0^s arrangements generally. The whether a man can work consistently t^e enough to support himself, both in the re ^bers of these committees feel a p
Posts. house has
to visit the house and to ta]P?nsibility Personal interest in how the
?Vh
a
lclents
are
Results
getting
on.
first that six eight tye\Was hoped Langley home would be at
'n
etio
to
a
to fit a man to move off then
t0
sh stable digs. In fact, experience has Wn all ^ ^at a Vear is not to? much to for many men to reach this
then a fairly close link is needed for those who single. Of course, this longer
4%and an8ley
even
?
207
for
and when he leaves us. But welfare officers are becoming more aware that no one is trying to grapple realistically with the desperate problems of alcoholics, psychopaths, sexual deviationists, etc. There is also great hope for helping men whose chief trouble is a basic inadequacy? of physical or psychological origin? which never allows them really to fit into society. Many of them increase their difficulties through anti-social habits but, basically, they are just helpless and hopeless home
prison
.
To deal with these men, a fully residential home would be needed, where there would be a variety of activities and they would not be required to go out to work at first. We are considering whether this should be the next step for the Langley House Trust. It would be hoped that the support and encouragement of such a home would bring out latent confidence and skill, so that the ex-prisoner would then be able to be transferred to one of our normal homes.
We also plan to set aside one b? ?probably at Cheltenham?where can give a measure of practical trJ ing to staff before they settle into1
after. But Government gfi for this kind of work and the gap ?2,000 a year for each house betvf residential fees and costs is met entif' by generous subscribers. Our fur'"1 developments will therefore depe greatly on what financial help receive. home they are present there is
to look
no
