Letter: Sex offence therapy

Sir: Nick Cohen's report (3 September) on the reconviction rate study carried out on men discharged from Grendon between 1983 and 1989 was inaccurately titled 'Study backs jail's radical therapy for sex offenders'. The study was of all men released from Grendon and we did not at that time have a specialised sex offender programme. We expect to be able to assess the effectiveness of that programme in 1993.

Grendon provides men, particularly those with a history of violent offences, with opportunities to address their past and present behaviour. We now have statistical evidence proving that if they commit themselves fully to therapy their future behaviour will change.

Yours faithfully,

T. C. NEWELL

Governor

HMP Grendon

Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire