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Prison Conditions Mirror TV Drama Time, Former Officer Says
The article discusses the new series of the TV drama 'Time', which portrays prisons as bleak, violent, and lacking in rehabilitation opportunities. Alex South, a former prison officer and author of 'Behind These Doors', argues that the show's depiction of prison life is depressingly accurate. The drama depicts HMYOI Alderwick, a fictional young offender institution, as a place where violence and isolation are rampant, with prisoners often locked in their cells for up to 19 hours a day. South highlights that the reality of English prisons mirrors this portrayal, with overcrowding, insufficient staff, and a lack of educational or rehabilitative programs. The Sentencing Act 2026 allows for early release of prisoners after serving only a third of their sentence, but this does not address the root issues of prison culture. South points out that the 'keep-aparts' system, where prisoners are kept isolated due to gang conflicts or other disputes, exacerbates division and violence. The article notes that 80% of offending in England and Wales is reoffending, suggesting that most prisoners do not benefit from their time in custody. South concludes that the show's portrayal is 'beautiful and ugly and exact, all at once', and that the real prisons are just as bleak as depicted, with prisoners often denied basic necessities like sufficient toilet paper. The author emphasizes that the cycle of violence and isolation in prisons is not only harmful to inmates but also to society as a whole, as these individuals return to the community without meaningful rehabilitation.