A new book on the 'controversial' Barlinnie Special Unit is being released today. 

The unit, also known as the BSU, opened at the Glasgow prison in 1973 and operated for over 22 years.

During that time, it polarised opinions for its therapeutic approach and shared decision-making between prisoners and staff, with prisoners able to have more contact with family and explore more creative activities. 

(Image: BSU)

READ MORE: Glasgow's 'Big Hoose' that rehabilitated a notorious Gorbals gangster

It represented a move away from the disciplinarian prison culture and its impact will be analysed in the new book The Barlinnie Special Unit: Art, Innovation and Punishment.

The book is a collection of essays, interviews and photographs from those who experienced the BSU first-hand, including former prison officers and prisoners, artists who worked in the unit, the unit’s psychologist, and current scholars in criminology.

Edinburgh Napier University's (ENU) criminology lecturer Kirstin Anderson, who edited the book, said: "When the Barlinnie Special Unit opened in 1973, the small unit’s therapeutic approach led to a major polarisation of opinion and debate that still resonates.

“This book considers how lessons learned from the BSU impact our thinking on punishment and imprisonment in Scotland today.

“The publication is timely as plans move forward to replace HMP Barlinnie with HMP Glasgow.

“It’s not too late to consider the significance of the Barlinnie Special Unit in Scottish penal history and how it might encourage us to think more critically.”

The BSU played a special role in rehabilitating former Gorbals gangster Jimmy Boyle, who was imprisoned for a murder he always denied committing.

Jimmy Boyle (Image: Newsquest)

READ MORE: Former Glasgow gangster to appear in 'candid' BBC series about Barlinnie

But while in the unit, he wrote an autobiography A Sense of Freedom, and upon his release in 1980, he became a respected writer and sculptor.

Another former inmate, Johnny Steele, is contributing to the book.

He said: “My life had been restored to me in instalments whereas in other parts of the system our lives were taken away from us in one go. For me, the BSU was the only port in the storm.”

The Barlinnie Special Unit: Art, Innovation and Punishment is available to buy from October 1.