Criminology Students Gain First-Hand Experience of Prison Life at Low Newton

Criminology students recently had a unique opportunity to visit HMP Low Newton in Durham, gaining invaluable insight into prison life and the wide range of career opportunities within the prison service.

From the moment they arrived, students were struck by the passion and dedication of the prison staff. Their commitment to rehabilitation and security was evident, offering a refreshing perspective on a profession often misrepresented in the media. This visit highlighted the extraordinary work that takes place behind the scenes every day.

Reflecting on the experience, Robert O’Connor, Criminology Course Leader, shared: “It was undoubtedly the best trip I have ever taken students on in 18 years of teaching. I learned more about the prison service in one day at Low Newton than I have ever done from years of reading academic textbooks. Since returning from the visit, students want to discuss their experience—it has sparked a level of engagement and reflection that is truly remarkable. It was absolutely fascinating to hear from different professionals within the prison and gain a deeper understanding of their roles.”

The visit also included a powerful session where prisoners shared their personal stories—recounting their early lives, the factors that led to their offenses, and their experiences within raw and honest accounts provided an eye-opening contrast to textbook learning, reinforcing the complexities of criminal behaviour and the realities of incarceration.

This immersive experience has left a lasting impact on the students, deepening their understanding of the prison system and the vital work carried out by those within it.

This is what our students had to say:

“I thoroughly enjoyed the prison visit yesterday, I thought that the prisoners were excellent in the way that they delivered their stories and were open to answering any questions that we all had. I think that it was very interesting to know what might have led them to commit these crimes. “

“Although I was excited, and a little bit nervous, I didn’t know what to expect from the HMP Low Newton prison trip. I was shocked when I came to realise how welcoming both staff and residents were within the prison. I feel like trips such as these really open opportunities to abolish the stigma around prisoners and prisons themselves. Each prisoner, regardless of their past crimes, allowed us students to know them on a deeper level rather than their label. I would do the trip 100 times over and it allowed me to expand my knowledge on career opportunities within the prison and probation service.”

“I just wanted to say thank you so much for giving us Criminology students a privilege to get more of an in-depth understanding about the lives of criminals, what prison life looks like, agencies which work alongside the prison like the prison counsellors, probation officers, prison officers and what their job entails. This trip has been a very eye-opening experience for me, I was shocked when I found the level of support these agencies provide to the inmates. I think having support like this put in place for the inmates to utilise is vital as it helps the decrease of reoffending.”

“I can honestly say it was an experience that broadened my understanding of the criminal justice system and all the roles in the prison that come together as a family and help those in need to be a better person. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by all the staff who were not only professional but also deeply passionate about their roles in the prison. The tour itself was both informative and enjoyable. We learned so much about the different day to day lives of prisoners and how the prison staff have all aimed to reduce re-offending and helping them proceed with their lives. It easy to view prisons as mere punishment places, however seeing one first-hand changed my mind completely. The staff have all shown that they prepare individuals for life outside the walls and this really shifted my perspective. I would highly recommend this to any student or person studying criminology, law or any other topics to be aware that not everything you see on the news is true. As in fact Low Newton has a surprisingly homely atmosphere with the prisoners sharing their stories and the staff sharing their responsibilities and plans for future offenders. I’d like to thank all the staff and the women who took their time to be able to speak with us and share your story. I am truly grateful. Thank you again.”

“Having the opportunity to visit Low Newton prison was an amazing experience, I feel lucky to have been given it. The hard work the staff at the prison have put in was shown clearly through the time they put in to give us a better understanding of life within the prison system. Going into this experience with expectations, I can confidently say that it exceeded them massively. The staff are hardworking and are fully focused on rehabilitating and helping the inmates within the prison. They give them so many opportunities to change themselves which I think shows how confident they are that they will change, and it’s truly inspiring. I want to thank all the staff and everyone who has put in the effort to make this happen.”

“Thank you Low Newton prison for allowing us to come in for a trip and speak to inmates. It has really shone a light for me on how much work you actually do and how little appreciation you get. You have also showcased that in prisons that you try your best to make their sentences meaningful. I learned a lot through the chats with each department, which has made me interested in joining the prison service. I would like to thank the women for their stories and open behaviour answering. Thanks for answering our questions, and being open talking about our crimes and thank you to both Officers Matt and Emma for showing us around the prison and answering our questions.”

“I found the trip to the prison really insightful to the lives that other people live. I thought that the day was very well structured and gave me lots of different opportunities to understand the other side to life we don’t see. I had the chance to challenge the myths I had about prison, and understand the criminal justice system differently. I saw a range of different people within the prison, and that it was very different to what I imagined. Talking to loads of different people who participate in different aspects of the regime gave me a really informative opportunity to look into different career paths I want to take. A part of the day which really stuck with me was the afternoon where we spoke to the prisoners. Seeing them and hearing their stories was an experience I didn’t think I would get to have and it was an amazing experience.”

“I found the trip to be beneficial to my learning as it taught me about the different forms of support available in prison to the women. I found that the women who shared their stories were very brave in being open about their childhood experiences and challenges throughout prison life and outside. I found that the prison had multiple services of support which is beneficial towards the women as it helps them overcome barriers and have support ready for the outside world.”

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