Grendon and the Emergence of Forensic Therapeutic Communities

Described as the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the prison service, HMP Grendon is a unique, prison-based Democratic Therapeutic Community (DTC). Historically, it is the first prison DTC of its kind, and the forerunner to several recent similar initiatives. Its theoretical significance lies in its therapeutic regime, and its particularly challenging client profile. In practical terms, it has achieved remarkable results, and set the standards for staff-inmate relationships.

For the first time in a single volume, a unique collection of research and practice papers has been created which highlights Grendon’s sustained contribution to our understanding of the role therapeutic communities have in effective interventions with offenders.

With detailed analysis, and access to extensive records from Grendon’s database, papers focus on a wide range of inter-relating issues; for example, decency and quality of prison life, personality disordered and sex offender prisoners, and a range of therapies and security in a DTC setting. Chapters also discuss concept DTCs in the USA, the democratic nature of high security forensic psychiatric hospitals in Holland, and the pros and cons of doing research in prisons. The result is an in-depth and fascinating understanding of prison regimes.