Let’s bring back borstal
How do you reckon the problem of youth crime and disorderly behaviour might be addressed? The reinstatement of borstal custody has been mooted in the media more often of late it appears.
I do not have any direct experience of borstal, however during my teenage years a couple of mates had copped for the dreaded ‘6 to 2’ (six months to two years dependent on severity of offence and the standard of behaviour while inside). At the end of their sentence, these two former offenders had cast their shackles aside and emerged physically fit and confident and with a steely, determined look in their eye. They possessed a robust work ethic and feared no man. The borstals were tough places and were at times brutal.
A ‘Daddy’ was in charge of each wing. These chaps had adopted a role similar to the senior boys in the British public school system, having the younger lads running errands and so forth.
There was a fierce pecking order between the daddies, often leading to fisticuffs. Tools (weapons) were sometimes deployed. Feelings of resentment ran high among all factions.
The warders and in particular the daddies were adept at recognising the warning signs that might indicate potential trouble, and would muster a game of British Bulldog.
The cathartic rough and tumble took place in the gymnasium and often resulted in bumps and bruises as it was an ideal opportunity for some of the chaps to settle grudges. In summation, borstals may be suitable if their rigid and punitive regime were to run alongside a structure of rehabilitation and character building.
Perhaps a rudimentary education could be provided for those suitably inclined.
The borstals were tough places and were at times
brutal