Can a Man Change?

Charlie’s Story

In September 1995 I was sent to prison for 16 months. While in prison I kept a scrapbook to record poems, short stories, artwork, letters and cards. This became an arts project for me to record my time in prison. We did a play about HIV awareness and that created a greater sense of trust and respect amongst the prisoners taking part, and my friends and family loved the paintings I did for them.

The prison officers were varied in their response though. Some were enthusiastic about the arts and those officers were able to see me as a person. Others were negative and couldn’t see or understand the value of the arts. Those officers saw me as just another number to be counted.

I would say the key benefit I received from taking part was a chance to escape the reality of prison’s boredom, routine and repetition, providing me with a space to experience a creative adventure with the use of my imagination. The arts allowed me to forget where I was for an hour and laugh and play. In my eight months in prison I experienced bullying, violence and abuse. The arts have allowed me to work through that abuse. As a result it has restored my humanity and dignity, making me a more loving, peaceful and compassionate person.

On my release I turned the scrapbook into a one-man play which I performed at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe, and it was reviewed by Sally Stott of The Scotsman: “It is difficult to come away from this piece thinking that prison in its current manifestation is a good idea. That is Charlie’s aim – to make you question the system, and it is something he definitely achieves.”

Ozzie’s Story

I was recently released from an 18-month sentence, the bulk of which I spent in Rochester prison. My time in Rochester was spent inactively, or unconstructively rather, until around November 2007 when I discovered writing. I actually got into writing accidentally. One day in the prison library, I boasted I could probably write a better poem than the guys from LBB (the prison magazine). The writer-in-residence took up my offer and asked me to write a poem. I did and she liked it. I started writing for the prison magazine soon after and have been writing ever since. [[The arts have restored my humanity and dignity, making me a more loving, peaceful and compassionate person.]]

Before I started writing, I had no idea what I wanted to do upon release. I had no focus, no sense of purpose and my days consisted of the same insipid routine as I waited impatiently for my release. Once I started writing however, I felt like I discovered a piece of myself that was hitherto unexplored. My whole attitude towards life changed because I felt I’d found something I not only enjoyed but was actually good at. I began to have a positive outlook on life as I envisioned a legitimate future in writing.

I noticed the prison officers’ attitude also changed towards me. They became much more friendly with me. I remember on one occasion, a prison officer took me into the shower, read out a poem to me and asked for my opinion. Firstly when I started writing, I got some criticism from other prisoners – they thought writing was for geeks. But as time went on, they saw how proud I was of my writing and they started to respect me for it. Soon afterwards, more prisoners started to participate in writing for the magazine and a lot of them would bring me books they had read or ask me to recommend an interesting book.

I noticed on numerous occasions how people’s attitude changed after taking part in the arts. One such instance was when Learning 2 Learn, an arts- based project, was introduced into Rochester. The participants had to make a mask and describe what it represents. Never in all my time in jail did I see prisoners’ faces glow with pride as when they discussed their achievements. Upon release, I have continued to write poems, short stories and I'm also writing my first play. I’m also planning on taking a creative writing course to further my skills and intend to join a writers group.