Rights, Pains and Illusions: The Experiences of Welsh‐Speakers at Wales’ ‘Flagship’ Prison

ABSTRACT

This article challenges claims of ‘inherent’ bilingualism in Wales’ largest prison, HMP Berwyn. Drawing on semi-structured interviews and extensive documentary research, we find that Welsh-speaking prisoners at this ‘flagship’ prison have experienced widespread neglect of their needs and overt interferences with their use of the Welsh language. In light of these findings, we highlight the illusory nature of Welsh language rights and reveal that prisoners endure their own identity-specific ‘pains’ because of these failures. Our research reinforces the need for criminology to take seriously the UK’s multi-national, post-devolution landscape and further underlines the importance of exposing utopian prison agendas to meaningful scrutiny and critique.