SparkInsideCEOmakesthecaseforrehabilitationliveonthe BBC

9 March 2020

On Sunday 8th March, BBC One’s The Big Questions asked ​‘Should redemption for prisoners come before retribution?’

Spark Inside CEO Vicki Cardwell appeared as a panel expert among a variety of experts and audience members, including people with lived experience of prison, victims of crime, criminal justice lawyers and a pastor. 

The lively debate saw BBC One presenter Nicky Campbell ask Vicki; ​“There are people who think we should be a lot harder on criminals – what do you say to that?”

Vicki answered that ​“the vast majority are going to come out one day, that’s the reality – it’s way over 95%, so whether people are in for two weeks, two years, or five years, it’s in all of our interest and everybody’s benefit that they come out on a better path; that they come out ready to move away from crime.”

Responding to the notion that more prisons should be built, Vicki said.

“I want us to get back to the practical reality of a problem we need to solve, which is that two-thirds of young people come out of prison and reoffend within a year – that’s a problem for our country and our society… We need to invest in better rehabilitation and a more robust and credible system, that gets as many young people on the right path and make us all safer”. 

Spark Inside runs coaching programmes in prisons to encourage rehabilitation and reduce reoffending, and is one of the first organisations to bring life coaching to 15 to 25 year old men, and to use systems coaching to bring together prisoners and prison officers in London prisons. We are currently piloting a life coaching programme tailored specifically to address the needs and experiences of young black men in prison.

You can watch the episode on BBC iPlayer now. Thank you to everybody that tuned in and took part in the debate!

Vicki can be available to talk to the media about our work and rehabilitation; you can get in touch by emailing media@​sparkinside.​org.

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