Nottingham Trent Uni builds mock prison cell for authentic incarceration experience
‘I’ve volunteered with offenders after they’ve been released and now I can see what their living conditions and experience has been like’
NTU’s psychology department has built a mock prison cell so that students can physically experience the process of being interviewed and incarcerated.
The cell, known as PriSim, is two by three metres and features a locking door with authentic dress by theatre design students from the Nottingham School of Art and Design. NTU said the students sustainably sourced items for the cell such as clothes, books, toiletries and personal items.
There is a one way viewing panel for observation with an additional prison office. HMP Nottingham also provided various parts of genuine prison kit with proper bedding, uniforms, plastic crockery, soap and toothbrushes.
Dr Jenny Mackay, NTU principal lecturer in psychology, said: “We’ve made the cell as realistic as possible so we can accurately reflect the experiences of both a person serving a prison sentence and the authorities involved in the process.”
Hannah Bolton, who is studying MSc forensic psychology, also spoke about the practical knowledge this will give her and fellow students, saying: “The cell will help us take the theoretical knowledge that we’ve learnt in class and put it into real life experiences. When I first saw it, I was surprised by the size and how bare it was. I’ve volunteered with offenders after they’ve been released and now I can see what their living conditions and experience has been like.”
It is planned that the cell will be used for role play activities by psychology students, but criminology, policing and law students will also have access along with academic researchers.
This cell will add to NTU’s other mock settings such as its court room for law students and their hospital and consultation rooms for those studying health courses such as nursing and paramedicine.
Featured image via Nottingham Trent University
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