A book for anyone concerned about the level of literacy amongst
prisoners. Behind The Lines is the product of some 15 years of working
with offenders and people at risk in prison and in the community. It is
based on the author's extensive experience of using creative writing to
change and improve thinking and behaviour to prevent crime. It includes:
Easy to read explanations of the method; Dozens of practical exercises
and ideas for discussion; Advice about the different approaches; Samples
of writing by offenders, inside and outside of prison; The author's
views about what works to engage and encourage (often) wary
participants. Behind the Lines represents a major contribution to
rehabilitative work (in one sense it is the prison-writing equivalent of
the highly successful Waterside Press publication, The Geese Theatre
Handbook). A Key Resource For: Writers in residence; Offending behaviour
group workers; Youth workers; Youth offending teams; Community workers;
Psychotherapists, therapists and counsellors; Special needs workers and
teachers; Anyone tackling literacy levels of risk groups... and people
training or studying in these and related fields. Reviews 'A very useful
resource for those working in difficult environments, with students who
generally have low levels of traditional educational attainment,
negative learning experiences and who, due to cultural and class
barriers, are not accustomed to engaging with the arts, either in
institutions or outside': Cormac Behan, Lecturer in Criminology,
University of Sheffield. 'Essential reading for anyone interested in the
real challenges of rehabilitation': Pat Jones, Director of the Prisoners
Education Trust (2008-12). 'Shows how you can turn the lead of anger and
despair in prisoners into the gold of insight and creativity': Oliver
James, author. 'Shows a sceptical world that [young offenders] are
capable of reflection, of understanding what led them into the acts they
have committed and the effects on other people and on themselves':
Alicia Stubbersfield, Poet and Koestler Award Judge. 'A wake-up call to
the educational system, which allows so many young people to leave
school in the parlous position that he describes, and which creative
writers up and down the country are devoting so much time and effort to
mitigate': David Ramsbotham. Author Michael Crowley is a youth justice
worker and writer. His works as a playwright include 'Beyond Omarska',
'The Man They Couldn't Hang' (published by Waterside Press 2010), and 'A
Warning against Idle Gossip'. He has written for youth theatre and been
writer in residence at a young offenders' institution for the last five
years. He lives in West Yorkshire.
