Neil Samworth

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Vulnerable nature of prisoners Neil Samworth's experience as a prison officer provided insight into the lives of some of the nation's most vulnerable people, who turned to crime due to difficult pasts. Many people in prison have committed offenses due to untreated mental health issues. The majority of them have been victims of abuse. Neil Samworth emphasizes that this should not be used to justify criminal behavior. He gives an example of someone who was clearly unwell, non-violent, and not dangerous, but mentally unstable. Samworth stated that the guy in question was a soldier, and his father was one of the most notorious offenders this country has ever seen. Every time he was released from prison, he ended up on the streets due to lack …show more content…

"There is a culture that discourages discussing emotions," he says. "The prison did not provide assistance, and I never requested any." One day, a prisoner assaulted two of Samworth's colleagues, and he reacted by punching and breaking the inmate's nose. Samworth acknowledges that he was fortunate to avoid an assault charge, but shortly after, he was granted leave due to a shoulder injury, and later received a diagnosis of PTSD. Listening to his experiences, it's difficult to see how this could have been avoided. Shortly after, a coworker passed away from a stroke right after retiring at 56, making Samworth worry he was on a similar path. Prisoners exploiting weak officers Despite facing challenges, Neil Samworth found satisfaction in his role and appreciated collaborating with his coworkers until the impact of budget reductions started to be felt at Strangeways in 2015. During the last six months of his employment, Samworth mentioned, "There was no communication with prisoners, no engagement, and that creates a hazardous environment." As officers found themselves stretched thin, their connections with the prisoners, crucial for upholding discipline and protecting more at-risk inmates, started to

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