ABSTRACT
‘We thought you’d never come to talk to us,’ Raziya says to us that morning after we have asked the superintendent of the prison if staff members could be included as part of our study in the research and counselling centre. She continues, ‘There is a myth going around that prisoners are the only ones needing assistance and support to cope with the prison as an institution. Prisoners come and prisoners go but we are here forever! It is assumed that because we are the khaki-clad guards in the prison we must be so powerful that we need no support and assistance. Well, let me tell you that that is nonsense. No one comes to inquire about our problems and requirements and believe me, they are many.’ Raziya is quite angered with our so-called neglect and has clearly been smarting since we started working in the prison. Her grievance is that we are paying too much attention to prisoners’ needs.
