A troubled prison is investing over £10,000 ($12,000) in a program that teaches offenders how to manage their rage through “body percussion” classes. Prisoners in this program are taught to employ bodily actions such as stamping their feet and clicking their fingers.
The curriculum includes popular songs such as “Happy Day” by Pharrell Williams and “Can’t Stop the Feeling” by Justin Timberlake.
According to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), this is part of a year-long contract HMP Dartmoor in Devon has with Wiltshire firm Kaboom for its “cognitive-based therapy workshops” at a cost of £9,600. According to the Daily Mail, the Prison Service emphasized that such programs help to reduce crime.
Inmates at HMP Dartmoor are taught how to make music with various body parts, such as clapping hands and slapping thighs.
The plan has been attacked by a Labour Party insider, who described it as absurd. The source expressed alarm over the status of the jail system, implying that it would be funny if not for the Conservative government’s apparent failings in public safety operations.
This comes after HMP Dartmoor was criticized for poor living circumstances, extended cell confinement, and a lack of educational and employment options. These issues were identified at the Category C prison.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Justice reported a 9% increase in prison assault rates, reaching 285 attacks per 1,000 convicts in the 12 months leading up to June 2022.
