A book for anyone concerned about the level of literacy amongst prisoners. Behind The Lines is the product of some 15 years of working with offenders and people at risk in prison and in the community. It is based on the author's extensive experience of using creative writing to change and improve thinking and behaviour to prevent crime. It includes: Easy to read explanations of the method; Dozens of practical exercises and ideas for discussion; Advice about the different approaches; Samples of writing by offenders, inside and outside of prison; The author's views about what works to engage and encourage (often) wary participants. Behind the Lines represents a major contribution to rehabilitative work (in one sense it is the prison-writing equivalent of the highly successful Waterside Press publication, The Geese Theatre Handbook). A Key Resource For: Writers in residence; Offending behaviour group workers; Youth workers; Youth offending teams; Community workers; Psychotherapists, therapists and counsellors; Special needs workers and teachers; Anyone tackling literacy levels of risk groups... and people training or studying in these and related fields.
Cormac Behan, Lecturer in Criminology, University of Sheffield.
Pat Jones, Director of the Prisoners Education Trust (2008-12).
Oliver James, author.
Alicia Stubbersfield, Poet and Koestler Award Judge.
David Ramsbotham.
Michael Crowley is a youth justice worker and writer. His works as a playwright include 'Beyond Omarska', 'The Man They Couldn't Hang' (published by Waterside Press 2010), and 'A Warning against Idle Gossip'. He has written for youth theatre and been writer in residence at a young offenders' institution for the last five years. He lives in West Yorkshire. Further details of his work and achievements can be viewed at michaelcrowley.co.uk
