Prison Overcrowding Bullet point summar
How to reduce prison overcrowding – some practical solutions
A Cumberland Lodge Forum, Monday 8th October, 2007
Summary and bullet points for action
Speakers at the forum:
Phil Wheatley, Director General, H.M. Prison Service
Anne Owers, H.M. Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales
Dr Chloe Chitty, Head of Unit, Research, Development and Statistics, National Offender Management Service
Dr Nicky Padfield, Senior Lecturer, University of Cambridge
The Rt. Hon. The Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
David Scott, Chief Officer, London Probation
Rob Lyman, Director Offender Services, Reliance Secure Task Management Service
Dr David James, Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, North London Forensic Service
Olga Heaven, Director, Hibiscus
Helen Edwards, Chief Executive, National Offender Management Service
Juliet Lyon, Director, Prison Reform Trust and Secretary General, Penal Reform International The Problem
Since 1995 the prison population has risen by over 30,000 from 49,542 (end Jan 1995) to 81,245 (October 2007). Over 24% of prisoners are in overcrowded conditions.
Negative consequences: population churn, prisoners moving from place to place, is difficult for prisoners, staff and courts. a marked increase in self-inflicted deaths. education and drug or alcohol treatment programmes are impeded. a shortage of constructive activity for one third of prisoners. prisoners are forced to share cells, increasing the risk of violence and unrest.
The prison population can be understood roughly as follows: just over 10% of prisoners, over 8000, spend under one year in prisons; this is quite a low number, historically speaking.
12% are serving either Indeterminate Sentences for Public Protection (IPP) or life sentences, a significantly increased proportion.
31% serve four years to life; ‘long, thick’ sentences.
28% serve between 1 – 4 years, a medium term sentence.
7% of the prison population are recallees,
A Cumberland Lodge Forum, Monday 8th October, 2007
Summary and bullet points for action
Speakers at the forum:
Phil Wheatley, Director General, H.M. Prison Service
Anne Owers, H.M. Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales
Dr Chloe Chitty, Head of Unit, Research, Development and Statistics, National Offender Management Service
Dr Nicky Padfield, Senior Lecturer, University of Cambridge
The Rt. Hon. The Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
David Scott, Chief Officer, London Probation
Rob Lyman, Director Offender Services, Reliance Secure Task Management Service
Dr David James, Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, North London Forensic Service
Olga Heaven, Director, Hibiscus
Helen Edwards, Chief Executive, National Offender Management Service
Juliet Lyon, Director, Prison Reform Trust and Secretary General, Penal Reform International The Problem
Since 1995 the prison population has risen by over 30,000 from 49,542 (end Jan 1995) to 81,245 (October 2007). Over 24% of prisoners are in overcrowded conditions.
Negative consequences: population churn, prisoners moving from place to place, is difficult for prisoners, staff and courts. a marked increase in self-inflicted deaths. education and drug or alcohol treatment programmes are impeded. a shortage of constructive activity for one third of prisoners. prisoners are forced to share cells, increasing the risk of violence and unrest.
The prison population can be understood roughly as follows: just over 10% of prisoners, over 8000, spend under one year in prisons; this is quite a low number, historically speaking.
12% are serving either Indeterminate Sentences for Public Protection (IPP) or life sentences, a significantly increased proportion.
31% serve four years to life; ‘long, thick’ sentences.
28% serve between 1 – 4 years, a medium term sentence.
7% of the prison population are recallees,