The Abolitionist is a magazine created by the Radical Alternative to Prison. Set up in 1970, the UK based group was committed to abolishing prisons and the development of alternatives. It worked closely with prisoners’ rights organisations. Its issues discuss various campaigns and initiatives relating to the prison system as well as more fundamental discussions of the role of prisons in the criminal justice system.

Issue number 14.2 from 1983 comments on the disproportionate numbers of black and ethnic minorities in prisons and their treatment. The article ‘Racism in Prisons’ discusses instances of racism toward prisoners by prison officers, offering examples of racist treatment and abuse. It documents how a significant number of prison officers were sympathetic to the National Front, and gives evidence of lenient and favourable treatment towards prisoners who had been involved in racist riots and violence.

It concludes, ‘prisons and the prison service reflect the society in which they operate and of which they are an integral part’. The deeply unequal and discriminatory aspects of British society are for The Abolitionist reflected in the UK prisons system and the treatment of its prisoners.

The Commonweal Collection includes around 15 copies of The Abolitionist published between 1979-1984. Other materials in the Collection about prison and society (St) can be found on the catalogue here.

Josie Mulligan (Commonweal volunteer).

A full list of over 1,700 magazines, newsletters, bulletins and journals that are in the Collection can be found here.