
Degrees of Freedom
Prison Education at The Open University
Policy Press
1st Edition
Published on 18. December 2019
Book
Paperback/Softback
208 pages
978-1-4473-5307-2 (ISBN)
Description
The first authoritative volume to look back on the last 50 years of The Open University providing higher education to those in prison, this unique book gives voice to ex-prisoners whose lives have been transformed by the education they received. Offering vivid personal testimonies, reflective vignettes and academic analysis of prison life and education in prison, the book marks the 50th anniversary of The Open University.
Reviews / Votes
'This important book documents the vital work done by the Open University in the development of prison education and provides valuable insights into the positive impact of this work upon individual prisoners.' Ivana Bacik, Trinity College DublinMore details
Edition
First Edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Bristol
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bristol University Press
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
Not illustrated
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
383 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4473-5307-2 (9781447353072)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
12/2019
1st Edition
Policy Press
€87.80
Shipment within 15-20 days

E-Book
12/2019
1st Edition
Policy Press
€231.99
Available for download

E-Book
12/2019
1st Edition
Policy Press
€51.49
Available for download
Persons
Rod Earle is a senior lecturer at The Open University in the school of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care. He is a founder member of the British Convict Criminology group which supports the development of prisoner and ex-prisoner perspectives in criminology. He has published widely on this topic and is on the advisory board of the Prison Reform Trust's prisoner engagement project.
James Mehigan is Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Canterbury and a barrister at Garden Court Chambers. He taught criminology at the OU for 10 years during which time he tutored students across the prison estate in England and Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland. He is a former member of the Independent Monitoring Board at Pentonville Prison.
James Mehigan is Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Canterbury and a barrister at Garden Court Chambers. He taught criminology at the OU for 10 years during which time he tutored students across the prison estate in England and Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland. He is a former member of the Independent Monitoring Board at Pentonville Prison.
Author
The Open University
James Mehigan is a lecturer in criminology at the Open University and a human rights barrister at Garden Court Chambers. He is also a trustee of the UK branch of Front Line Defenders, a NGO that focuses on the protection of human rights defenders at risk around the world.
Content
Openings and Introductions: Education for the many, prison for the few ~ Rod Earle and James Mehigan
From Prisoner to Student ~ Anne Pike and Ruth McFarlane
Vignette 1: Choosing my journey - Kamal Abdul
Pioneers and Politics: Open University Journeys in British and Irish prisons in Long Kesh during the years of conflict 1972-1975 ~ Philip O'Sullivan & Gabi Kent
Vignette 2: Avoiding the mind-numbing vortex of drivel ... - Thomas
A University Without Walls ~ Dan Weinbren
Vignette 3: Starting a new chapter - Mr C.T. Morgans
Open universities, close prisons: critical arguments for the future ~ Rod Earle & James Mehigan
Vignette 4: Out of the abysmal - 'Eris'
The Light to Fight The Shadows: On Education as Liberation ~ Kris McPherson
From Despair to Hope ~ Margaret Gough
Vignette 5: Making my commitment - Razib Quraishi
Straight up! From HMP to PhD ~ Stephen Akpabio-Klementowski
From Open University in Prison to Convict Criminology Upon Release: Mind the Gap ~ Michael Irwin
Vignette 6: Message to a prisoner - Gordon McDonald
From the School of Hard Knocks to the University of Hard Locks ~ Abdulhaq Al-Wazeer
Becoming Me with The Open University ~ Edwin Screeche-Powell
Vignette 7: Catching up with Kafka - Steven Taylor
From D102 to Paulo Freire: an Irish Journey ~ Laurence McKeown
Vignette 8: My journey, my new life - Dan Micklethwaite
Ex-prisoners and the transformative power of higher education ~ David Honeywell
Vignette 9: Prison choices: taking a degree or packing tea? - Alan Jermey
What the OU did for me ~ Erwin James
Appendix 1: Study with the OU
From Prisoner to Student ~ Anne Pike and Ruth McFarlane
Vignette 1: Choosing my journey - Kamal Abdul
Pioneers and Politics: Open University Journeys in British and Irish prisons in Long Kesh during the years of conflict 1972-1975 ~ Philip O'Sullivan & Gabi Kent
Vignette 2: Avoiding the mind-numbing vortex of drivel ... - Thomas
A University Without Walls ~ Dan Weinbren
Vignette 3: Starting a new chapter - Mr C.T. Morgans
Open universities, close prisons: critical arguments for the future ~ Rod Earle & James Mehigan
Vignette 4: Out of the abysmal - 'Eris'
The Light to Fight The Shadows: On Education as Liberation ~ Kris McPherson
From Despair to Hope ~ Margaret Gough
Vignette 5: Making my commitment - Razib Quraishi
Straight up! From HMP to PhD ~ Stephen Akpabio-Klementowski
From Open University in Prison to Convict Criminology Upon Release: Mind the Gap ~ Michael Irwin
Vignette 6: Message to a prisoner - Gordon McDonald
From the School of Hard Knocks to the University of Hard Locks ~ Abdulhaq Al-Wazeer
Becoming Me with The Open University ~ Edwin Screeche-Powell
Vignette 7: Catching up with Kafka - Steven Taylor
From D102 to Paulo Freire: an Irish Journey ~ Laurence McKeown
Vignette 8: My journey, my new life - Dan Micklethwaite
Ex-prisoners and the transformative power of higher education ~ David Honeywell
Vignette 9: Prison choices: taking a degree or packing tea? - Alan Jermey
What the OU did for me ~ Erwin James
Appendix 1: Study with the OU