Did Anyone See The Programme, Bring Back Borstal, On Tv Last Night?

[sandyRoe]

I missed it but noticed the blurb in the Radio Times stated that 7 out of 10 Borstal inmates never reoffended. Can that be true? I knew a lot of lads who had been through the Borstal system and most seemed to have went on to lead lives as unsuccessful criminals.

[woofgang]

no idea if the stats are true but of course what they really mean is that 7/10 weren't caught again!

[retrocop]

Well Borstal wasn't intended to ensure they became "successful" criminals.
It was known as a short, sharp shock and for the most part it appeared to work.

[woofgang]

retrocop, have you got any support for your statement?

[retrocop]

Only that it was stated by the criminologist who played the part of the Borstal Governor in last night's TV exercise and experiment. If he states the truth then 7/10 not reoffending would be for the most part a success!

[retrocop]

I also know of three 70 year old gentlemen who were Borstal Boys who were guests at a Borstal called Send. They definitely didn't want to re offend.
I know that is only 3 examples but I have not met any ex borstal boys who said they were happy to make a return visit.

[hc4361]

The aim of Borstals was training, education, routine and discipline.
As sentences were often 5 years it was a hardly a 'short, sharp shock'.

[retrocop]

It was to those who had not previously been introduced to discipline.

[ludwig]

// most seemed to have went on to lead lives as unsuccessful criminals //

The system worked then. Without borstal they would probably have been successful ones.

[hc4361]

retrocop, I meant there is nothing short about a five year sentence.

The re-offending rate of 30% was the case in the 1930s (according to the people who ran the Borstals) but it steadily increased over the years. There was also a lot of absconders.

[trt]

I thought the programme was a waste of time, as the residents could just leave when they wished too.

It would be interesting if Borstal did come back, as the thought of the inmates without their TV, Computer accesses, phone calls, game-boys, pool, gym etc, etc, would make a big % think again.

[Peter Pedant]

70% failure

Borstals went like so many other things because they didn't work

1971 paper Br J Criminology on this which I wont pay to read !
but I think I had to read that first time round for my uniexams

30 % I think is a con where you don't count going to prison as a failure coz it aint a borstal see and the q was about reoffending and borstals

[Peter Pedant]

wasn't the borstal at Send spelt Seend ?

it is all such a long time ago ......

[BlackadderV]

Don't forget Approved Schools. There was a famous case in 1960 about a lad who had been to approved school, yet managed to end up on the gallows at the age of 18.