The Barlinnie Special Unit

<p><span style=color: rgba(109 109 109 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>Fifty years ago a small unit in HM Prison Barlinnie Glasgow became a radical experiment whose approach polarised opinion. It encouraged shared decision-making between prisoners and staff allowed greater access to families and enabled prisoners to explore creative activities. Through the support of visiting artists and the voices of the prisoners themselves notably the sculptor Jimmy Boyle (author of </span><em style=color: rgba(109 109 109 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>A Sense of Freedom</em><span style=color: rgba(109 109 109 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>) its impact challenged prevailing disciplinarian prison culture.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(109 109 109 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>Arts of various kinds plus respectful and challenging dialogue released dormant abilities and strengths in hitherto recalcitrant formerly violent prisoners. Always controversial the legacy of the Barlinnie Special Unit challenges overly punitive ideas around crime to this day.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(109 109 109 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>The first edited collection on the Barlinnie Special Unit's almost 22-year history with contributions by those who were there at the time or helped preserve its legacy. They include artist filmmaker Bill Beech Scotland's first art therapist Joyce Laing leading Scottish impresario Richard Demarco Sara Trevelyan ex-wife of Jimmy Boyle (who also contributes) Rupert Wolfe Murray son of Boyle's publisher Professor </span>Mike Nellis<span style=color: rgba(109 109 109 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)> of Strathclyde University Claire Coia a curator at Glasgow's Open Museum Andrew Coyle founding Director of the International Centre for Prison Studies and journalist and former Scottish MP Brian Wilson.</span></p>