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30 20 a 26 de Abril de 2007
Inside the inside
Prison. Not somewhere where most
of us will ever have to, or would
want to go. Unless to visit someone
else. Someone sentenced to spending time in
a place where time itself grinds to a standstill,
the days merge into weeks and routine
takes a robotic hold on what for the rest of us,
on the outside, is daily life. But the notion
that a prison sentence is merely punishment
for those who have done wrong is far from
the truth. It is, in fact, an opportunity, at least
for those held at Faro prison
Opposite the municipal theatre in Faro is
Faro prison, which has been visited regularly
the past few weeks by The Portugal News.
It is 'home' to 143 inmates, all men, 70
per cent of whom are in preventative custody,
the remaining 30 per cent serving 'hard'
time.
Surprisingly, 40 per cent of all Faro
inmates are foreign. Fifteen nationalities
including English, Scottish, French,
Brazilian, Western European, African, and
Chinese, as well as Portuguese, make up the
institution's resident population. But
arguably the most surprising feature of this
prison is that its director is a woman.
Most of the convicts in Faro are serving
lesser sentences of anything up to five years,
for crimes like drug trafficking in small
quantities or theft. But most of those condemned
to terms inside this establishment
can (and indeed do) consider themselves fortunate.
Divided into four departments - security,
clinical administration, and education -
each department has qualified, experienced
professionals in charge to ensure everything
runs like clockwork and provide the best
possible chances of education and social reacceptance
for those held inside.
Drª Paula Quadras is the prison director.
She is a petite, well-presented lady who has
made it a personal mission to break down the
boundaries and misconceptions surrounding
offenders to offer them the best possible
chances of becoming respectable and contributing
citizens to the society they will be
reunited with once free.
Her philosophy is unique, and she
defends that prisons should not be looked
upon as "mere containers" for society's
offenders.
"From the moment individuals arrive
they have to be prepared for their release"
she explains, "We can give them that preparation,
but they have to want to be the
authors of their change".
To achieve this, in the year and a half that
the establishment had been under her supervision,
she has introduced a diverse range of
activities to motivate the prisoners and promote
the learning of new skills, at the same
time encouraging drug detoxing and
hygiene.
Yoga, handicrafts, carpet weaving, music
lessons, poetry competitions, an internal
newspaper and painting classes are but a few
of the activities that have been introduced.
Voraciously accepted, for many of the
inmates these activities have become a
means of mental escape from their confines:
something to look forward to whilst reflecting
on their pasts, motivation to endure yet
another day of their terms.
Dr. Júlio Melo is one of three educational
technicians. After spending five years as a
prison guard he sat exams to become an
institutional educational advisor, something
that gives him great satisfaction. This department
offers convicts the chance to acquire
educational qualifications whilst in prison,
creating tools for the men to re-build their
futures on the outside. Courses including
table serving and bartending, as well as conventional
schooling, can be attended.
"Seeing an offender come in with no
education whatsoever and leave with the
ability to read and write makes it all worth
while" he says.
Whilst most subjects have qualified
teachers, others, such as the painting classes,
rely on the inmates' own interaction and
sharing of skills.
Language barriers disappear and positive
behaviour is extracted through interaction,
teaching and sharing. And the results are
very surprising.
The prison now boasts its own fourmember
band, 'Band'Alheira', of which two
members had no previous experience
whosoever and were taught by fellow
inmates, as well as picking up technique by
sight and by ear. Playing impressive renditions
of Rock and Roll favourites, the band
performed for civil officials with primitive
equipment at a Christmas party in 2005. The
officials were so impressed that new instruments
were donated from the civil governor,
and are now put to very good use.
One of Band'Alheria's founders,
Portuguese inmate António Godinho, takes
incredible pride in the accomplishments with
his quartet.
"It helps to escape from the daily grind,"
he says in perfect English as he leafs through
an immaculately hand-written book of lyrics.
"It makes you feel alive".
His dream is to one day be able to play
for outsiders. He is also proud that upon his
release a legacy will likely be left for future
convicts to nurture and work towards.
Band member Aleric Scott, an
Englishman who has been in Faro prison for
a matter of months, has adopted a very positive
outlook towards his situation.
"While I was on the outside I always
wanted to learn to play an instrument
because I have always been interested in
music", he explained. "Unfortunate life didn't
allow me the time or circumstances to do
so. Now I can. I will put my time here to
good use". "We're all here for a reason so we
should be learning", he reflects.
Faro inmates also put on play for visitors,
participate in inter-prison competitions, and
a selection of works of art will soon be put on
display in their very first outside exhibition,
held in the 'Armasen' gallery in Lagos,
throughout the month of April.
This upcoming exhibition is a dream
come true for the eight men who participate
in the daily art sessions. Prisoner Frank
Walling takes pride on sharing his artistic
talents with his fellow inmates, most of
which have never painted or drawn before.
According to two of the resident psychologists,
it is also important in the sense
that it gives the men an opportunity to
regain lost values, as well as proving to the
outside world that they have positive qualities.
Contradicting the general perception of
'criminals', the expressive freedom found
through art creates a window to reveal a
more sensitive side, something translated
through the time and effort that is taken to
complete the paintings.
Another impressive case is that of prisoner
João Almeida, whose time in Faro has
given him direction and determination to
succeed in society after his release.
João has fallen in love with traditional
'Arraiolos' carpet weaving. He spends up to
five hours a day dedicatedly weaving a carpet
he is making for his mother to thank her
for unfailing love and support.
After his release João, who suffers a 70
per cent handicap in one of his hand and
which significantly improved following his
venture into carpet weaving, hopes to get a
grant to start a small business selling the traditional
'Arraiolos' wools and threads, as
well as making and restoring the carpets.
'Arraiolos' carpet making is a dwindling
Portuguese tradition and one that João aims
to prolong.
Someone else who has seen the improvements
in both the prisoners and their routines
over the past 18 months is head of security
Chef Manuel Lourenço, who has been with
the prison for over 32 years.
"Some of the men who end up here
arrive through unfortunate circumstances,"
he says, "once imprisoned they realise that it
is not a life to aspire to and when they leave
they do change. It's great to see someone ten
or twenty years down the line, who did time
in prison when they were younger and really
made something of their lives".
Life inside starts at 07h30, when the
inmates are released from their cells, and finishes
at 21h00 when silence is installed and
cells are locked down.
During this period the prisoners have
time from 09h30 - 13h00 and 14h30 - 17h00
to go about their various activities.
The main aim, however, is to try to give
the men some of their independence and
self-worth back so they have every possible
chance of succeeding after release.
According to Drª Quadras, there are various
ways that outsiders can help and she
would like to appeal for others to take this
into consideration. Here is how you could
help. As a business, your small tasks (i.e.
folding flyers, putting letters in envelopes,
folding textiles, etc.) can be undertaken by
prisoners for a small fee. The revenue from
these jobs will revert towards materials for
workshops and items of personal hygiene.
Offer work experience to prisoners completing
their sentences. Gardening, construction
works, assistance on golf courses, etc,
are all positions that would be gladly filled.
A trial period can be requested. Organise
exhibitions or showcase inmate's work.
Donate materials (paintbrushes, paper,
paints, oils, pencils, etc.). A list of necessary
items can be issues on request.
After spending a morning at Faro Prison
the question was posed if at anytime I felt
threatened or intimidated. My answer was
decisively "No". Curiously, I felt privileged
to have witnessed determined individuals,
both criminals and non-criminals, making a
genuine effort to positively re-invest in a
society that may once have been seen as an
enemy. For more information, contact Drª
Paula Quadras on: (+351) 289 805 190, or
send a letter to: Estabelecimento Prisional
Regional de Faro, EN125, 8000-126, Faro.