Prison Based Think Tanks
"Think-Tank is a lifeline to the world outside. Each session allows me to reset my thinking and remember that prison is not the world, that I am more than a prisoner, and I have value. More importantly than that, it allows me to contribute. It gives me the opportunity to make an actual difference and that is the most powerful feeling in the world."
At the completion of Inside Out, both ‘inside’ and ‘outside’ students at each of the six prisons expressed wanting to advocate for systemic, practical changes to prison operation. To accomplish this, under the leadership of Associate Professor Marietta Martinovic, the graduates from IOPEP established prison-based Think-Tanks.
Think Tanks meet fortnightly to discuss custodial policies and procedures that have a problematic impact on incarcerated people. We consult and collaborate with various stakeholders, including Corrections Victoria, to improve those practices. The work of the Think-Tank has received positive feedback from the stakeholders, and many of the recommendations have already been implemented by Corrections Victoria and have become a part of prison policies.
In 2019, 30 past and current members of the Think-Tank were interviewed about the personal impact of the Think Tank membership. Members reported feeling empowered by directly contributing to policy-making processes. It made them ‘a better person’ who developed empathy and a realization that they can and should ‘give back’ to the community. These findings are consistent with desistance literature, and indicate that within the confines of prison, contributing to custodial policies facilitates desistance narratives and encourages engagement in prison programs.
