CrimeCon is widely considered the world’s number one true crime event that connects experts in law enforcement, content creation, and advocacy to create a jam-packed weekend. Rather than sensationalize a serious topic “born out of someone’s misery,” CrimeCon focuses on psychology, victimology, and methodology.
I was lucky enough to attend CrimeCon UK 2023 in London, where I learned a wealth of knowledge and benefitted from inspirational and enlightening workshops.
While it was a tough job, I’ve narrowed my experience to the following five highlight sessions.
1. CrimeDoor
CrimeDoor discussed the use of future technologies, such as AR, VR, and AI, and their role in investigations and court proceedings today. By intersecting investigation and technology, these developments can be used to improve the efficiency and accuracy of justice processes.
2. Black Criminology Network
The BCN explored the perception of ethnic stereotypes and the aspects of true crime entertainment. Currently, the entertainment world stands the risk of the erasure of voices, and there are significant ethical considerations to keep in mind. The BCN also discussed the importance of positionality, which should be front of mind whenever telling another’s story.
3. Raphael Rowe - Second Chance
Raphael Rowe interviewed Colin Sutton, former Senior Investigating Officer in the Metropolitan Police, along the themes of his podcast, Second Chance. The pair discussed the value of getting the best out of people and how the importance of getting second chances out of incarcerated individuals impacts the community.
4. Former FBI Agent Katherine Scweit
Former FBI Special Agent Katherine Schweit is the author of Stop the Killing and How to Talk to Anyone About Guns. She presented a discussion on massing shootings in the United States, busting myths along the way. She also discussed the true problem of guns, America’s violent landscape, how to spot a shooter, and how to keep yourself safe.
5. Human trafficking and modern-day slavery
Author Louise Hulland, advocate Aisosa Henkoma, and human trafficking expert Phil Brewer joined forces to discuss the prevalence of human trafficking and modern-day slavery, with Aisosa sharing a powerful testimony of his own experience.
Good cop, bad cop is a negotiation strategy used in a variety of different industries, such as sales — and law enforcement.
What is the concept of good cop, bad cop
In the strategy, two individuals or parties work as a team to offer a series of rewards and punishments, hoping to get an advantage over another individual.
The bad cop presents a hostile and abusive attitude, which is countered by the good cop, who adopts a non-threatening and sympathetic approach, but is this an ethical approach for interrogation?
Is good cop, bad cop ethical?
While the principle doesn’t necessarily promote harm, it’s commonly extorted as a dirty negotiation tactic. Without proper control or protocol, acting as the bad cop can land the police officer in trouble, with the interrogation method appearing as extortion and even filing an incorrect police report.
Unfortunately, “good” cops have to pay the price of “bad” cops who adopt the negotiation strategy into their real-life persona.
learn more from bad people
Are you interested in more of this discussion?
Bad People have released a very interesting podcast episode on this exact topic, discussing whether the tactic actually works. Listen to the full episode here.
Restorative justice describes an approach to justice that strives to repair the harm caused by criminal activity. It allows different types of victims and perpetrators to communicate and address their needs in the aftermath of a crime.
Goals of Restorative Justice
If a case goes to court, Restorative Justice happens post-conviction and can occur while the perpetrator serves time in prison.
Restorative justice strives to achieve the following goals:
- Create a space for open communication between victims, offenders, and communities
- Encourage meaningful engagement and accountability
- Provide an opportunity for healing, reparation, and reintegration
- Reduce recidivism
- Produce greater satisfaction for victims
The essence of restorative justice can be summarized with these five principles:
- Relationship - strive to fix a damaged relationship
- Respect - respect is key to making relationships work
- Responsibility - everyone must take personal responsibility for their actions
- Repair - once respect and responsibility have been established, the element of repair slowly replaces thoughts of revenge and/or punishment
- Reintegration - encourages collaboration with the community and recognizes the benefits a person can bring to the table
Restorative justice is based on principles of respect, compassion, and inclusivity. It uses processes to achieve its goals, such as conferences and dialogues guided by skilled facilitators.
Restorative justice is a holistic approach to justice that addresses the needs of victims, including their material, financial, emotional, and social needs.
Does Restorative Justice Work?
The concept of restorative justice may sound productive, but the politics of restorative justice needs to be applied correctly (and carefully).
There are a few promising findings but little scientific evidence to prove that restorative justice works.
The majority of the programs have been implicated for juvenile offenders. While the results are mixed, there is good evidence that programs focused on minors contribute to reducing recidivism.
For example, one study revealed that 91% of victim participants participating in a restorative justice program in California were willing to participate in another conference. The same percentage would recommend the process to a friend.
In Winnipeg, an evaluation of a restorative justice program revealed that participating offenders had lower recidivism rates (15%) than the matched group of probationers (38%).
Communities for Restorative Justice have revealed more insights, showing that restorative justice programs have a more positive impact than traditional criminal justice.
There’s no denying that restorative justice is a heavy process that demands an open mind from both victims and offenders. There are instances when the program falls flat and others where major breakthroughs are achieved (for both parties).
Real-Life Examples of Restorative Justice
Statistics are useful in driving policy and systemic change, but it’s real-life human stories that change hearts.
Impacting the lives of (former) offenders
Restorative Justice Exchange is an initiative of the Prison Fellowship International which is committed to strengthening restorative practices in programs for prisoners, victims, and families of prisoners.
First, restorative justice changes the hearts and minds of those who have caused pain and anguish, inspiring them to change their lives for the better. One person involved in The Sycamore Tree program says the following.
Jose Fonseca, a former gangster in Columbia, served time for shooting a rival gang member. After serving time, he returned to the same neighborhoods to share his testimony and set an example for the youth. Restorative justice taught him about the ripple effect of his crimes — and he couldn’t shake the realization. He has even found peace with his victims.
Impacting the lives of victims
But it’s not only the former offenders that benefit from restorative justice. Consider Rob’s story, which has been shared by Why Me?
His son was robbed and attacked by three youths. One of the attackers was convicted to six months behind bars, and Rob was offered the opportunity for a restorative justice meeting. A year after the attack, the meeting took place, and Rob recalls his experience.
“After the attack, my son was clearly shaken and upset. I on the other hand was left with anger and no direction in which to channel it. I attended court but the process allowed no voice for the victim. Taking part in the Restorative Justice meeting was a chance to open up a conversation, in which both my son’s attacker and I could both listen and equally be heard. I anticipated that he would not answer the majority of my questions but he did listen to what I had to say about his senseless choice of actions on the evening he attacked my son.
I was also able to understand the young person’s background. Whilst not excusing his behavior that night, I did find myself having a certain amount of empathy and consideration for his circumstances which I was not expecting. At the end of the meeting I looked him in the eye, shook his hand and wished him all the best in his future. I hoped that with the benefit of him taking part in Restorative Justice from an offender’s perspective, he would think carefully about his future choices.
When I left the meeting, it felt like a weight had been lifted from me that I didn’t even realize I was carrying. I felt like my anger from the time of the attack had subsided but what I had unwittingly done was suppress it. Now finally after this meeting all the unwanted negativity I had held was finally and permanently gone.”
Formerly incarcerated individuals often refer to their release day as the best of their lives, but this joy can be short-lived during the adjustment period. Reentering society introduces various challenges such as finding employment, adjusting to a new routine, and dealing with overwhelming stress.
These difficulties often contribute to recidivism. In fact, a Nigerian review established that discrimination, lack of reintegration support, and the lack of employment lead to recidivism. The Bureau of Justice revealed similar statistics.
According to their study of 30 US states between 2005 and 2010, one-third of released individuals reoffended within six months.
However, effective intervention and support can change the narrative.
The doe Fund
The Doe Fund is an NYC-based nonprofit that strives to do exactly that by releasing male prisons through its Ready, Willing & Able program. Participants get paid to clean the streets and sidewalks of the city and continue to train for more specific trades. At the end of the program, participants are connected with job opportunities that help them get back on their feet.
An independent study by Harvard University's Dr. Bruce Western concluded that the program cuts the risk of future police contact by one-third.
One of these men is William Bossio, who struggled to reintegrate into society after his release. William did several prison stints after failing to keep up with the bills and the pressure to return to a life of crime. His parole officer introduced him to the program and pushed him to make the right decision.
Through the program, William has found hope after prison and feels “blessed to find a job.”
Read the full story at Business Insider.
Actions have consequences. In the same way that working hard can lead to a promotion, so can criminal behaviour lead to incarceration. To continue the analogy, receiving a promotion should inspire an employee to step it up a level, and incarceration should lead to reform and rehabilitation.
Sadly, this isn’t always the case.
True impact of long-term incarceration
There is a lot of research on the true impact of long-term incarceration on offending individuals, especially those who are sentenced under the age of 25 years old.
During the early stages of incarceration, individuals experience confinement as the biggest challenge. As the sentence progresses, a different trauma emerges, leading to the severe reconsideration of self-identity and worsening of mental health.
During this time, it’s essential that an effective rehabilitation guides thoughts on future identity. Instead, studies show that anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder are common in those who have lived in prison for a long time. These symptoms can prevent successful reintegration upon release.
Impact on mental health
While there is routine and structure in prison, the hostile environment can impact individuals in a dramatic way. For example,
- Overcrowding and punitiveness decrease privacy reduces access to amenities and limit opportunities for programmes
- Solitary confinement increases the likelihood of developing psychiatric disorders
- Experiencing and witnessing violence leads to aggressive and antisocial behavioural tendencies and emotional distress
The longer the prison sentence, the more exposure to this hostile environment and the larger the collateral consequence. Research reveals that these triggers can worsen symptoms of mental illness and have long-lasting effects once an individual is released.
The Sentencing Project argues that “a key issue in assessing the decarceration trend is American sentencing policy and practice related to the length of prison terms.”
One could argue that this principle could apply around the world.
are long-term prison sentences a solution?
Did you know that 32% of US adults say that incarcerated individuals spend too little time in prison?
Long prison sentences may seem like a solution to managing crime, yet mass incarceration has a devastating impact on the prison population. Overcrowding, limited opportunities, lack of resources and diminishing returns for public safety are all negative side effects of long-term prison sentences. Long sentences are also counterproductive for public safety, and time served can be reduced without putting dangerous individuals back on the street.
Growing prison population
While the use of long-term prison sentences is an anomaly in the United States, with one out of seven individuals serving life sentences, the trend is prevalent around the world In South Africa, the prison population has grown by 60% between 1995 and 2004.
Other countries with high incarceration rates include Russia, Turkmenistan, Thailand and Brazil. These countries use mass incarceration to control crime rates, but the temporary solution has led to overcrowding, limited resources and damaged mental health.
In comparison, Norway, which has one of the lowest recidivism rates in the world, abolished life sentences in 1981. In Denmark and Sweden, lifers have the opportunity to be released after 12 and 18 years, respectively. Moving across to Latin America, only six of the 19 nations support life imprisonment.
Of course, specific crimes need to be considered as well as the offender's degree of responsibility and motivation for the crime. By assessing individual cases and focusing on rehabilitation, powerful and positive stories can emerge.
the role of eduation
Prison can be a dark and dangerous place, but it can also lead to powerful stories of transformation and opportunity. When effort is made to educate and rehabilitate incarcerated individuals, it can change their lives, as well as the lives of those in their community.
A study by Emry University reveals a fascinating insight into recidivism rates that support this theory. Their findings on recidivism rates are as follows;
- 55% of individuals who complete high school course
- 30% of individuals who take part in vocational training
- 13.7% of individuals who earn an associate degree
- 5.6% of individuals who earn a bachelor’s degree
- 0% of individuals who earn a master’s degree
Not only does education improve mental fortitude and increase skills, but it also provides an opportunity to build businesses and get a job upon release.
powerful stories of reformation
There are many people’s stories that add context to these statistics, and Stand Together shares a few of these stories.
One focuses on Sean Pica, who received a 24-year sentence while in the 9th grade. He enrolled in an organisation called Hudson Link and took college classes. After release, Sean continued his education and returned to lead Hudson Link as its Executive Director, and his work saves New York State taxpayers over $21 million per year.
Marilyn Barnes is a formerly incarcerated individual who uses education to empower others and break free from the cycle of recidivism. Having experienced two decades in and out of prison while struggling with drug addiction, Marilyn found an opportunity with the Root and Rebound’s Roadmap to Reentry guide. She earned her master’s degree, published her own book and founded a non-profit, proving that change is possible with support.
These are just a few of the (many) stories of redemption, reformation, and fulfilled potential. There are plenty more…
The justice system alleges to consider each person innocent until proven guilty, however, the high number of exonerations around the world suggests otherwise.
Wrongful Conviction is an eye-opening, gut-wrenching, and jaw-dropping podcast by Lava for Good. Hosted by Jason Flom and Maggie Freleng, the podcast tells real stories from individuals who have been convicted of crimes they maintain they did not commit. While some have since been proven innocent and exonerated, others continue to fight for justice from behind bars
Exoneration
Exoneration: officially clearing a person of a crime that they have been convicted of after new evidence of innocence becomes available.
Around the world, innocent people are incarcerated due to a flawed system, human error, and biases. The Innocence Project reports that 1% of the US prison population is falsely convicted. To put this into perspective, the National Registry of Exonerations has reported more than 2,500 exonerations since 1989.
Of these exonerated individuals, the average amount of time spent in prison for crimes that they did not commit is 8 years and 10 months. Tragically, these figures don’t include those who continue to fight to prove their innocence from inside prison.
For their pain and trauma, many exonerees don’t receive any compensation from the state upon release, nor do they receive the same transitional tools that many guilty individuals have after the completion of their sentence. While organisations within the United States offer access to figures on exonerations (and stories on those who maintain their innocence), wrongful convictions are a pandemic.
A Global pandemic
Countries that endure a culture of violence, such as South Africa which has the third-highest crime rate in the world, are especially quick to judge convicted criminals — even if they are fighting to prove their innocence.
If you’re looking for a new podcast to open your eyes and tell powerful stories behind statistics, then Wrongful Conviction comes highly recommended.
“Our constitutional democracy sits with human dignity as a basic tenant. In other words, Ubuntu/botho (humanity), is central even in the pursuit of justice.”
These words were shared by Ronald Lamola, South African Minister of Justice and Correctional Services of South Africa, during an interview with Justice Trends.
He continues to describe the justice system as a “transformative process” but one can argue that this is only achieved through effective rehabilitation programs.
What does rehabilitation look like? How are these programs established? And are rehabilitation efforts a one-size-fits-all?
Introducing Unorthodox Project
In an effort to understand rehabilitation in South Africa, and how it impacts the country’s high recidivism rate, we spoke with Warren Baynes, a South African photographer and filmmaker.
In 2015, Warren crossed paths with Linten, an aspiring boxer who learned his athletic discipline while incarcerated in Drakenstein Correctional Facility. The encounter inspired Warren to better understand boxing as a rehabilitation tool, as well as the idea of identity among young men in gangs.
Warren says, “Linten was the catalyst for my interest in boxing as a rehabilitation tool inside correctional services. His life reflected the lives of many young South Africans in gang areas. Boxing had given him the tools and discipline to be a better person and to make, arguably, some of the toughest life choices there are.”
Assumptions about Rehabilitation Methods
Enrolling a violent individual in a boxing program as part of rehabilitation may seem to be counter-intuitive - at first.
What is criminal rehabilitation? In an ideal situation, the process empowers incarcerated individuals to separate themselves from the factors that initially led to their criminal behaviour. Essentially, rehabilitation involves correcting the mind and behaviour of those who have offended.
In South Africa, the concept of “prisons” has undergone a “paradigm shift” to be called “correctional facilities”. The South African Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has the constitutional responsibility to provide rehabilitation programs that address offenders' criminal behaviour.
Initially, Warren grappled to understand the role that boxing could play in rehabilitation and his intrigue inspired his three-year-long project, Unorthodox.
Yet through patience and a willingness to understand, the fog that previously hovered over the concept started to lift.
“The offenders that really embraced boxing as a lifestyle choice had developed values of respect and discipline and had committed themselves to their training. When they arrived to train they were the ones leading the groups in warm ups; in sparring sessions they were controlled and calculated, not throwing punches wildly. In the boxing club, there was a sense of community among those offenders committed to their practice. I witnessed a sense of community in the club, it was a place where these young men had a chance to develop themselves as fighters and men.”
Realising that a boxing program in a correctional facility has the potential for change is just the tip of the iceberg. Understanding how it contributes to growth of character and the ability to break away from gang culture indoctrination is a lot more layered.
The Role of Rehabilitation
A person’s journey with the justice system is largely shaped by the decisions that they make behind bars. A lot of the responsibility lies on the individual to choose rehabilitation.
Warren explains, “The decision to be involved with the boxing program is entirely up to the offenders. Once offenders are moved from maximum to medium security sections they are entitled to certain privileges. It’s entirely their choice, but privileges can be revoked if they are caught being part of any illicit activities. Being a part of different rehabilitation programs that the facility offers does read positively on an offender's parole application.”
Various studies emphasise the role of rehabilitation in helping incarcerated people reenter society and not reoffend. Sadly, rehabilitation initiatives in South African correctional institutions are inadequate and considered to be one of the reasons for repeated offences.
An AJCJS paper describes rehabilitation initiatives as “non-existent” which could explain why recidivism rates in South Africa lie between 55% and 95%.
Effective rehabilitation involves separating incarcerated people from the factors that caused them to offend in the first place.
In South Africa, crime levels are credited to poverty, social stress, the lack of guardianship and generations of systemic oppression. In townships and lower-income areas, many men are raised without a father and gang leaders become the male mentor figure and gangs serve as a pseudo-family, offering a sense of community. Essentially, the identity of young men is shaped on the streets.
How can institutional rehabilitation address these external factors?
This was Warren’s answer when asked what role Drakenstein Correctional Facility’s boxing program plays in rehabilitation. After spending time with the men over three years, Warren noticed changes as offending individuals realigned their self-identity in an effort to improve.
So, does boxing establish identity, purpose, and community?
Self-Identity and Rehabilitation
Public opinion is shifting regarding rehabilitation and the efforts needed for reform - but it’s still got a long way to go.
While there’s not much research on the South African public’s perception of reform, international polls reveal that 85% of Americans support making rehabilitation the goal of the criminal justice system (rather than punishment).
In countries such as South Africa, where the mitigating factors are still prevalent upon release, rehabilitation needs to get to the root of the problem. While correctional facilities can’t eradicate poverty and the drug culture, they can help the incarcerated individuals form an identity outside of their external communities and negative influences.
Warren says, “I don’t believe change/rehabilitation comes without a shift in self-identity. We are the product of our environment and if the home life and community are hostile then the person tends to become anti-social. Shifting someone out of that conditioning takes helping that person establish a new identity, something that isn’t aligned with corrosive values of what they are used to.”
Through Unorthodox, Warren got a glimpse into the fundamental values shared by the boxing program at Drakenstein Correctional Facility, highlighting how self-identity directly corresponds with boxing as rehabilitation.
“I think in the case of self-identity and rehabilitation with men who come from backgrounds as they do, boxing empowers them with confidence and appeals to the image that they have of what a man should be - tough and formidable. But the underlying positive effects are that they are in a controlled environment - a gym. Hard training helps them regulate and deal with various emotional challenges that they might otherwise struggle with expressing. Boxing enables these men to feel empowered as well as gives them purpose.”
Through this realisation, Warren’s initial assumption of teaching boxing to violent youths being problematic took a sharp turn. This begs the question - how many rehabilitation efforts do we judge and keep at arm’s length when there is potential for positive change?
Practical Elements of Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation manifests differently for everyone.
In an institutional setting, there are a few structural fundamentals that lay the foundation for successful rehabilitative efforts. One of the biggest obstacles? Money!
In a country where the budget for education and healthcare is strained, rehabilitation and reintegration programs take a backseat (and are largely absent from the justice system). Yet a Penal Reform International report on global prison trends for 2020 revealed the budget allocated to each incarcerated individual per day in South Africa was EUR 25.83 (R433.33).
Allocating these funds appropriately toward effective rehabilitation programs could reduce recidivism and decrease the financial strain of correctional facilities on society as a whole.
As it stands, correctional facilities rely on private efforts to fund many rehabilitation programs. When Warren captured moments from the boxing program at Drakenstein Correctional Facility, all of the training equipment was paid for by private sponsors.
The boxing program was made available to those in medium or low-security sections who have permission to participate in sports. In this particular photograph, all incarcerated individuals are considered medium to low risk and run alongside non-incarcerated boxers outside of the facility.
Since Warren wrapped up his photography project, it’s suspected that the boxing program has ended. Explaining why he believes the project didn’t survive, he says, “The bureaucracy and lack of support that Mr Fourie (head of the boxing program) got from the administration made it challenging for him to grow the program and since he has left the facility I’m not sure if the program is even going any more.”
Despite its uncertain fate, the program changed the lives of multiple men. To continue, the program needs funding - both to operate in the facility and to bridge the gap for boxers leaving the prison and assist in the reintegration process.
Microcosm vs. Macrocosm
Perhaps you’ve wondered how the criminal justice system affects you as an individual. Maybe you choose to keep a superficial understanding (at the most).
Truthfully, we should all be advocating for effective rehabilitation efforts so that crime rates drop, recidivism is lowered and communities are strengthened.
In the US, one out of every seven prisoners is serving life, meaning that 6 out of 7 are released to reintegrate into society. In South Africa, only 12% of the total prison population are “lifers” meaning that 88% are released at some point.
Not only does the cost of life sentences adds a significant economic burden on society, but many of those who are released re-offend due to inadequate rehabilitation.
Without proper rehabilitation efforts, correctional facilities become a microcosm of the outside world - ruled by violence and fear. If we can shift these efforts in a different direction, then the macrocosm becomes significantly more positive.
We asked Warren how he believes that the Unorthodox project in Drakenstein reflects the world outside.
“In many ways, I feel this body of work represents the harsh reality for so many young men in South Africa. Establishing a self-identity comes from home and community influence and if those don’t carry healthy values then young men quite easily get caught up in anti-social and criminal behaviour. The work also reflects on the lingering effects of apartheid and oppression and a criminal justice system that fails to reintroduce offenders back into society.
From what I saw, boxing has the ability to create a positive self-identity. Boxing gyms facilitate the growth of positive role models and help develop strong mentorship relationships. The act of boxing - the physical practice - is a form of self-expression that might seem brutal and barbaric, but actually requires discipline and encourages respect.
The role of correctional facilities like Drakenstein should be to help offenders create new identities and values as well as empower them with the skills and knowledge to succeed once they are related. Offenders also need support once they leave the facilities and that’s what I noticed is lacking and leading to offenders going back to their old ways.”
Linten’s Story
“When I was 16 years old my friend was shot down next to me inside the car. The guy with the gun turned to shoot me but the gun jammed. Today, I shouldn’t be alive.”
Since this devastating experience, Linten has been incarcerated, rehabilitated, and was well on the way to starting a new life for himself – and then he was killed.
There are real stories behind these theories and insights on rehabilitation. The Unorthodox project sheds light on these stories, inspired after Warren met Linten.
Warren first crossed paths with Linten a year after he had been released from the correctional facility, and was the first boxer that Warren got to know. In a few words, Warren shares his friend’s story;
“After leaving Drakenstein Linten moved in with family in Belhar so that he wouldn’t be around his old gang area. He continued to train at a gym while looking for work and always wanted to compete in a boxing match. During our first shoot day together he told me that he had a child on the way.
Linten would go on to show the greatest commitment to his self-development and growth out of almost all the offenders I met. By the time his child was born he had found full-time work refurbishing old shipping containers into offices and small homes. His commitment to providing for his son and being a positive role model kept him away from gangs and over the years he covered his tattoos with various motifs. For example, on his right hand, he had a portrait of Muhammed Ali. He continued to train regularly and was in great shape.
But fate has a cruel way of dragging some people down. In late 2021, Linten was killed in cross-fire when he was visiting his cousins in his old neighbourhood in Elsies Rivier. The facts are still unclear to me if he was involved with any illicit activity or not.
Linten never got a chance to compete in a boxing match.”
Abdul-Aziz’s Story
“There was people that we looked up to that were older than us and they were gangsters. So I also wanted to be like these people. I feel I didn’t have love at home so I was searching for it in the wrong place.”
This is how the process of indoctrination begins for so many young men in South Africa.
Not all stories are as tragic as Linten’s story. Abdul-Aziz Kunert is another boxer from the Drakenstein Amateur Boxing Club and his path followed a different direction. As Warren spent time with Abdul-Aziz over the years, he was privy to the boxer’s training, competitions and eventual release from Drakenstein.
Since Abdul-Aziz’s release, he has pursued professional boxing and continues to train between Cape Town and Johannesburg. He also has a wife and three children.
But what about the rest of the incarcerated people that Warren met at Drakenstein?
“Over the years of working with offender boxers, only Linten and Abdul-Aziz continued their boxing aspirations once leaving correctional services. Mr Fourie tried to help offenders find gyms near to them when they left Drakenstein but without transport, financial support or a positive community of people to motivate them, most of the offender-boxers end up involved in criminal activities in some form or another.
I’ve heard that one promising amateur is now the head of a gang in his area and another offender who had changed his life while at Drakenstein was shot in the jaw at point-blank range while in a barber’s chair.”
In many cases, it takes more than a boxing program to break the bonds of South African drug culture. In other instances, the boxing program is an effective step in the right direction, but the rest of the path is overgrown with obstacles and challenges, causing people to backtrack and return to old ways.
These insights beg a much bigger question - where should the efforts of rehabilitation be focused? Should the priority be on rehabilitating incarcerated individuals or fixing the environment that contributed to their behaviour?
Final Thoughts on Rehabilitation and Unorthodox
To achieve effective rehabilitation, organisations need to address the root cause of criminal behaviour and not flinch from discomfort.
By building relationships with incarcerated individuals, Warren learned the value that the boxing program at Drakenstein Correctional Facility offered those behind bars — and it’s not only Warren who has come to advocate for sport as a rehabilitative effort.
Beloved Nelson Mandela also found value in boxing, writing the following words in his autobiography, “My main interest was in training; I found the rigorous exercise to be an excellent outlet for tension and stress.” His words continue, “After an evening workout I would wake up the next morning feeling strong and refreshed, ready to take up the fight again.”
The boxing program at Drakenstein Correctional Facility managed to change the lives of several men, but in most instances, it wasn’t enough to have an everlasting effect.
Warren attempts to summarise his three-year project in the following words.
“The reality for most of these young men is that there is no support after they leave correctional services. Facilities offer a sense of routine and opportunity in a controlled environment - say controlled very loosely because the balance between gangs and wardens is a thin line. If offenders choose to make changes then it’s a solitary life, but it is possible. The reality outside of the facility is dangerous and unpredictable and without any support, ex-offenders seldom have the grace to pursue newfound passions.”
These photographs and insights are just the tip of a very deep iceberg. The attitude toward incarcerated people attempting to redeem themselves is the very opposite of the ubuntu that so many South Africans pride themselves on - and the problem extends far beyond our wounded country.
Let’s zoom in on the United States for a moment.
reform and justice
According to Public Agenda, America’s Hidden Common Ground on Police Reform and Racism in the United States,
“Nearly all Americans across the political spectrum and across racial/ethnic groups support officers wearing and using body cameras (94% of Republicans, 91% of Democrats, and 86% of Independents; 92% of white Americans, 87% of Black Americans, 88% of Hispanic Americans).”
The driving force behind these statistics is a desire to know the truth about what really happens during these exchanges.
Without evidence of how authority is exercised, people are left to narrate their own version of the story, often contributing to stigma and cycles of hate in the process.
The Marshall Project produces non-profit journalism that is committed to demystifying the American criminal justice system. We’ll be sharing more about this incredible organisation in posts to come…
supporting independent journalism
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We respect the Marshall Project’s fair, transparent and humane approach to journalism and their obvious commitment to reform. That’s why we contribute a small amount each month to help The Marshall Project tell stories that matter.
We encourage you to donate to the nonprofit journalism which “establishes facts, exposes failures and examines solutions for a criminal justice system in crisis”.
For many people, the criminal justice system is a mystery, best kept at arm’s length.
In many instances, incarcerated people are put behind bars and only missed by their families (if they are lucky).
However, there are many moving parts involved in the criminal justice system, and they extend far beyond the cell walls. The Life Inside series is one of the many endeavours by The Marshall Project which nurtures public understanding of the lives affected and broadens perspectives.
Stories from behind prison walls
The series offers weekly first-person stories written by people who live or work in America’s criminal justice system. By sharing these stories with the world, others can better understand the powerlessness of parenting from prison, the underground economy of solitary confinement, the prevalence of brain injuries in the criminal justice system, and more.
Explore some of these powerful stories here.
Fred Weatherspoon's Story of Reform
“We’d have conversations, and I’d realize their lives were one long, trauma-fueled ride — from the moment they were born, until they landed in the Illinois Department of Corrections. I spent years listening to these stories.”
These words were written by Fred Weatherspoon, a program and mentor manager for the Precious Blood Ministry Chicago.
Fred’s story of reform is inspiring. Talking to The Marshall Project, he details his journey from spending 25 years at a maximum security prison to working with vulnerable youth and their families. He found a sense of belonging in a way that he never could’ve expected - and it has changed more than just his own life.
Fred’s story highlights the power of conversation. It also sheds light on the hope that comes from following these words with action.
Read the full story on The Marshall Project Life Inside here.
Christopher Blackwell's Story
“To see change, we must support change.”
When someone releases a violent or verbal outburst, it can make others feel uncomfortable and lead them to brand the individual as troubled.
Yet there are many different factors that contribute to these outbursts, including vulnerability, lack of accountability, failing to notice details and crippling fear. Other issues, such as toxic masculinity and certain environments, further cause the suppression of these factors, in turn contributing to more dramatic outbursts.
Christopher Blackwell shares his story with The Marshall Project, and reveals how education played a pivotal role in his rehabilitation. After taking classes with University Beyond Bars, Christopher started to rebuild his confidence and find a purpose in his life.
Christopher says, “We must give individuals the opportunity to see themselves as more than the harm they’ve caused, more than what was once broken within them.”
Read Christopher’s empowering story on The Marshall Project here.
In the fitness world, people say that you are what you eat.
In social settings, people say that you are the company that you keep. At Chosen Narrative, we like to think that your beliefs are shaped by what you consume.
Media has the power to influence our beliefs and values and impact our perceptions of the world. Birthed inside the walls of San Quentin Prison's media room, Ear Hustle shares "the daily realities of life inside prison shared by those living it, and stories from the outside, post-incarceration". Ear Hustle is available on Spotify, Apple, Stitcher, and more.
Listen to one of our favourite episodes, Episode 28: Respect the Paper.