Prisoner Leadership through Education in Prison

This chapter explores the dynamics of prisoner leadership within the context of prison education. Drawing on the experiences of our co-author, Femi, the chapter identifies three models of prisoner leadership in educational settings: leading from the front, leading from behind, and leading through advocacy. These models are framed by key values—empathy, integrity, and courage—which underpin effective leadership and which develop through leadership opportunities in prison. We frame prisoner leadership as a radical act of love, grounded in Paulo Freire’s concepts of good education leadership. Freire's Pedagogy of the oppressed (1997 emphasises that leadership rooted in empathy and dialogue is a powerful tool for challenging oppressive structures. Within the oppressive environment of prisons, prisoner leadership in education acts as a form of resistance, fostering autonomy and humanity. This radical love is expressed through the courage to lead in an environment designed to dehumanise, creating transformative potential for both the leaders and the communities they serve. The chapter also addresses significant barriers to prisoner leadership which hinder the development and expression of leadership within the prison environment. Despite these barriers, we argue that prisoner leadership, when nurtured within the educational spaces of prisons, can lead to meaningful change for individuals and the broader prison culture.