Prison

I posted a Blog about Prison in 2017 - "Prison isn't Working". Since then the "justice" landscape has changed - Not for the better. 

The MOJ publishes weekly statistics on prison populations. On the 3rd November 2023 the prison population was 87,764 - 84,168 men & 3,596 women. It is projected to increase steadily to reach 94,400 prisoners by March 2025 and between 93,100 and 106,300 by March 2027. The biggest age bracket is prisoners aged between 30 - 39 at over 28,524 prisoners. There are only 3,625 prisoners aged 15 - 20 years old. Most prisoners have previous convictions. 70% of custodial sentences are imposed on those with at least seven previous convictions or cautions, and 50% are imposed on those with at least 15 previous convictions or cautions. Non-violent offenders tend to be the most prolific criminals. Prisoners without a substantial criminal history have usually gone to prison for committing the most serious crimes. 

27% of the prison population are from a minority ethnic group, which does not reflect the ethnic make up of Britain. Ethnic minorities are more likely to get custodial sentences & are more likely to serve long sentences. Britain has the largest prison population in western Europe - Third after Russia & Turkey. However, the United Kingdom's crime rate remains relatively low when compared to the rest of the world,

https://prisonreformtrust.org.uk/project/race/

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1138135/Prison_Population_Projections_2022_to_2027.pdf

The UK has 120 prisons, (16 managed privately). The newest prison, HMP Fosse Way, opened in May 2023. The oldest prisons date back to the Victorian era. According to We Own It prison privatisation simply does not work.

https://weownit.org.uk/public-ownership/prisons

What is prison for? The primary purpose is to punish wrongdoing, protect the public & hold prisoners securely while they serve their sentences. In theory prison deters people from further offending, which doesn't seem to be borne out by reoffending statistics - Of those sentenced to less than 12 months in custody, 63% will reoffend within a year of release. Compare this to Norway's reoffending rate of just 20%. Finally to rehabilitate.

It has been shown that, when available, there is a positive impact on reducing reoffending, by offender behaviour & education programmes and drug interventions. Cognitive-behavioral programs in prisons consistently reduce recidivism by 15 percent or more, with some leading to reductions of closer to 30 percent. Unfortunately the UK system is focused on punishing offenders rather than rehabilitating them. The amount of money spent on prisons far outstrips the funding available for social programmes and rehabilitation. There are worrying understaffing issues in prisons, so rehabilitaion courses can't be offered. In addition, Inspectors found that in local prisons 31% of prisoners report being locked in their cells for at least 22 hours a day, rising to 37% at young adult prisons. If they are in their cells they are not being rehabilitated.

The vast majority of prisons are providing inadequate conditions or unacceptable treatment, according to an Observer investigation. A Guardian article says that widespread overcroding and the refusal of the German court to extradite a man to the UK because of concerns about jail conditions in Britain both point to a system that is underfunded, understaffed & failing.

Don't for one minute imagine that being in prison is anything other than a real punishment. You canot envisage what the loss of freedom & any control over your life does to a human being unless you have seen it first hand. Suicide, self harm & depression are worryingly commonplace.

There must be a better way for our Justice System to work. Norway's prison system is renowned as one of the most effective and humane in the world.  Only 20% of Norway's formerly incarcerated population commit another crime within two years of release. Even after five years, the recidivism rate is only 25%. 

It isn't rocket science or magic. If they can do it why can't the UK?