Students check out prison life in another country
Project aims to get tips to help tackle crime
STUDENTS were sent to a foreign prison to pick up tips to tackle crime in Scotland.
The groundbreaking project by the University of the West of Scotland will see criminal justice students visit European countries to gain first hand experience of foreign policies.
Golnaz Ghanatpisheh, 23, from Glasgow’s West End, was a member of the group, who have just returned from a trip to Slovenia.
They visited the country’s only female prison where they were able to talk to inmates and staff.
The student, who wants to become a probation officer, said the trip opened her eyes.
Golnaz, who is originally from Iran, said: “When I went to Slovenia I just saw how well people were treated in the prison. It was totally different to Scotland. They were allowed out, they had their own library.
“They didn’t have strict timings. They weren’t isolated with four walls. They could do a lot of things that was really eye opening.
“The crime rate in Slovenia is very low. In the whole of Slovenia there was only 74 female prisoners. They treat them with respect so they’re less likely to go back.”
The trip was funded by the Scottish Government and UWS.
The university is working on finalising an agreement between its Criminal Justice Department and the Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security at the University of Maribor to allow up to eight UWS students each year to complete part of their studies in Slovenia.
Dr Maria Sapouna, from UWS, said: “The aim of organising the trip was to enhance the students’ learning experience by giving them the opportunity to experience a new culture and criminal justice system.
“Slovenia’s system is less punitive than ours so the visit gave students the opportunity to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches.”