Reconstruction USA

In Rome, the visit to the Colosseum was an amazing experience. We joined a guided tour to learn about the design, construction, epic Gladitoral games that went on for days, and then the period of decline when the building became disused and was plundered for the valuable white marble blocks that once sheathed the foundation stonework.

At the end, our guide asked for questions. A young American woman piped up, and said: "Are there any plans to renovate this place?" There was a slightly stunned, not to say embarrassed silence, before the Italian guide smiled sweetly and replied: "No, we think it's just perfect as it is."

I'm not anti-American. Honest. But this did seem to be a continuation of a theme. I remember an incredible experience on a camping safari in Africa's Serengeti national park, where our group travelled on dirt tracks into the heart of the scrub and spent a night in tents, sharing the land with wild animals. On the way back, we stopped (as all must do) at the park lodge to register out, and I browsed through the comments book. There was an entry with an American address complaining about the state of the roads, and suggesting that the authorities lay some decent Tarmac.

I'm sure not all Americans think this way. But new, slick and smart is not the only way, guys.

Roming

By train to Rome for a short break holiday. We have been tut tutting about the environmental impact of short-haul flights and decided to do something about it. The train journeys were surprisingly easy to arrange - Eurostar to Paris and overnight sleeper to Rome - and the cost very similar to EasyJet prices for half-term. Plus the sense of adventure and opportunity to see countryside and people, rather than clouds and sky out of the window. It worked really well, except that there was a delay going out which resulted in us losing part of our first day in Italy.

Rome was fantastic...highly recommended. People had warned about litter and graffiti but what we found was a clean and vibrant city dripping with history and antiquities. The only real downside was the traffic. The Colosseum is a marvellous, mind-blowing spectacle but not at all enhanced at being (effectively) a massive roundabout for Rome's endless procession of cars taxis and small motor-bikes. And that goes for whole swathes of the city. Time to do some creative thinking and make the historical centre traffic-free. Please?

Rough justice

Interviewed two offenders in prison who had systematically kicked and punched a man, leaving him lifeless on the ground. Witnesses said they saw them repeatedly kick the victm in the head and body. The police photograps showed the grotesque results - eyes puffed up to the size (and colour) of oranges. It made me feel sick just reading the case papers.

How is it that men can inflict violence on each other like this? I sometimes feel I am unusual for having such deep abhorrence of male aggression. I could never imagine myself intentionally harming anyone. Yet it is clear that not everyone feels that way.

Interviewing violent offenders nearly always produces a a similar background story of parental rejection and / or abuse; fragmentary schooling; early addiction to heavy drinking or hard drugs. It's quite depressing.

The older I get, the more I recognise how crucial the early infancy / childhood period is. That's when the foundations for future behaviour appear to be laid. Trying to change habits and attitudes in adults is such a hard task.

Goodbye Bill

I learned today that a young man that I used to supervise had ended his life by standing in front of a train. Great sadness at the violent ending of a life, and also that someone could get that desperate to go through with such a plan. He had always been a troubled young man with significant and deep emotional health problems.

The fact is that there are many like him : frequently the products of traumatic childhoods with a core belief that they are bad and worthless. Prison wings are full of them.

The "mad or bad" debate has been going on for as long as I have been a probation officer,with the pendulum swinging decidedly towards the bad end for a long time now. Just read the tabloids to get a feel of attitudes towards offenders.

Did the system fail Bill, or did Bill fail to fit into the system? Probably a bit of both. It's a stark reminder for me of how important it is to get things right for children at the very early stages. By the time adulthood is reached, the damage is often done and it's really hard for people to make significant changes.

Catch 21

A colleague probation officer was interviewing an offender, who mused over his difficulties, and then said that he seemed to be in a "catch 21 situation."

My colleague asked if that was better or worse than catch 22.

He thought for a few moments, then said: "Worse."