The Barlinnie Special Unit

'The unpopular truth was that a number of violent prisoners who had themselves been subjected to violent suppression became relaxed and socialised under this unheard of regime.'-- Sunday National 'Unique today in that it is the only British penal initiative from fifty years ago that anyone in Scotland (or England) cares to remember and celebrate as a neglected success, whose less obvious lessons were never properly learned.'-- Bella Caledonia ‘Art therapists working in secure institutions will find this book particularly relevant. However, hopefully it will be of interest to all art therapists in its inspiring demonstration of the power of art therapy to effect change even in the most challenging circumstances.’-- Marian Liebmann, Insights 'A beacon and a challenge to all thinking people about what to do with antisocial individuals... we need books like this one - read it, heed it, and then act.'-- Dr Bob Johnson, Consultant Psychiatrist 'Looking again at the BSU is a reminder that we have to reform the prison system. It means treating people in a humane way, even those who have committed serious crime, and by inventing creative projects which restore a person's self-worth as a better route to redemption than mere punishment' - Baroness Helena Kennedy KC (from the Foreword). ‘Brings to our attention how the Barlinnie Special Unit challenged many preconceptions about what prisons could and should be.’-- Quakers in Criminal Justice The book will be featured as part of the Edinburgh International Book Festival programme in August 2025. As featured in the Herald, Sunday Mail and Daily Record; and on BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland and BBC TV's The Nine.