Introduction to the Special Issue on ‘Fifty Years of HMP Grendon’

During the laying of Grendon’s foundation stone on 1 July 1960, the Rt Hon R.A. Butler, Home Secretary, affirmed Grendon’s remit to be a different type of prison, by stating that: ‘the regime must be flexible with the accent on treatment; and success will depend above all on an enlightened staff-inmate relationship, together with close co-operation at all levels between the different members of the staff ’ (Snell 1963, p.179).This fulfilled a recommendation in the East and Hubert (1939) report that a special kind of penal institution be created in which selected prisoners could be treated by psychotherapy and other means as well as being a centre for criminological research. Fifty years on and Grendon continues in its function of providing a unique therapeutic environment for male prisoners, all of whom have to apply for a place.