One of the key things that separates humans from animals is the ability to take responsibility. Of course, if David Attenborough was reading this he’d rightly point out countless examples of animals “taking responsibility” by incubating eggs or searching for food but what I’m writing about here is the way human beings can choose, to a large extent, to take responsibility for a variety of things from brushing our teeth twice a day to running enormous global companies.

I believe one of the key faults of the prison system is that “taking responsibility” has been taken away from us other than very basic self-care, we have little that we can be responsible for.

Plenty of people I live with don’t brush their teeth, wash their hands after using the toilet or get out of bed in the morning. Many don’t exercise or make healthy menu choices and some don’t wash. These are all choices that prisoners make but I woud suggest that they should be challenged by the authorities to take more responsibility for their basic self care.

Other than that, though, we have been sterilised from responsibility. We get told when to shower (if we request), what to eat and when to clean our cell (again, if we request) and we have virtually no choice about anything.

Now, I can hear the Daily Mail already screaming that prisoners shouldn’t have any choices about anything but the crucial point about responsibility is to have the choice to do something and, indeed, the choice not to do something.

In here, I am prevented from taking the responsibility to keep my cell clean because we only get the option once a week. I am prevented from taking the responsibility for being on time for things because we get told when to go and where. I am prevented from taking responsibility for my physical health because of the secure restrictions on what we can buy to compensate for the unhealthy menu and the limit to our exercise.

I’m sure I’m not alone in wanting (no, actually needing) to be responsible. I do what I can. I, of course, get up and make my bed every morning at 6:30am during the week and 8am at weekends, I naturally wash my face when I wake and before I go to bed as well as brushing my teeth twice a day. I make sure I nurture my outside relationships through phone calls and letters. I take responsibility for driving my fight for justice following my wrongful imprisonment and whenever I am allowed, i make good choices regarding my physical health but this is hardly being a human being. I need more although, to be clear, I don’t want to be given anything – I just need fewer obstacles in my way and fewer restrictions, then I can do the rest.

In addition to what I need, I think hat prisoners need to be challenged more. What would be wrong with room inspecting at 6:30am to check the place is clean and tidy? That would establish an understanding that we are responsible for our space. What would be wrong with us being told to report for work at a set time rather than the current arrangement and what would be wrong with some choices? At least when the parole board was making its judgement, they would know who is able to take responsibility and who can’t.

That’s the difference between animals and humans.

NaN.