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Should We Build More Prisons? 1129 Words

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Should We Build More Prisons? 1129 Words Should we build more prisons? 1129 words Pat Strickland Key Issues for the New Parliament 2010 SECURITY AND LIBERTY House of Commons Library Research Does prison work and can we afford it? The prison population has been rising, with an especially sharp increase since the mid 1990s. The Ministry of Justice attributes this to: Should we build more prisons? courts sentencing more offenders to prison each year between 1995 and 2002; Pat Strickland offenders staying in prison for longer, because of longer sentences and a decline in parole rates; and Does prison work and can we afford it? tougher enforcement following release, leading to more recalls for longer periods. Commission on English Prisons Today The prison population has been rising, with Prison population has risen KEY STATISTICS an especially sharp increase since the mid (whose president was Cherie Booth), the sharply since the mid-1990s Prison population in England and 1990s. The Ministry of Justice attributes this 100,000 Prison Reform Working Group (chaired by Wales reached a record level of almost to: Jonathan Aitken), the Conservative Party and 85,000 in April 2010, an increase of the National Audit Office. Questions raised courts sentencing more offenders to 80,000 90% since 1993 include: prison each year between 1995 and 2002; The prison estate has been Could we get better value for money by overcrowded since 1994 offenders staying in prison for longer, 60,000 “reinvesting” some of the money spent because of longer sentences and a decline In 2008/09 it cost an average of on prisons, either in other parts of the £39,600 to keep a prisoner in prison in parole rates; and 40,000 criminal justice system (such as community for a year sentences) or on activities that prevent tougher enforcement following release, The UK has the second highest crime in the first place? leading to more recalls for longer periods. 20,000 incarceration rate in Western Europe Should we have smaller local prisons, Approximately one-half of adult Some argue that increased crime levels in the which may work better by rehabilitating prisoners reoffend within one year of 1980s and high profile cases, such as James 0 offenders closer to home, or larger prisons release Bulger’s murder in 1993, fuelled political 1975 1985 1995 2005 2015 providing economies of scale? competition over sentencing. In 1993 Tony Approximately three-quarters of Blair promised the Labour party conference closure of 5,500 inefficient places). Originally juvenile prisoners reoffend within one How can we make justice more responsive that he would be “tough on crime and Somethree argue “Titan that prisons” increased were tocrime provide levels those in the 1980s and high profileyear cases, of release such as James Bulger’s locally? tough on the causes of crime”, while murder7,500 places.in 1993, Following fuelled consultation,political competition five over sentencing. In 1993 Tony Blair promised the Michael Howard told the Conservative party Could restorative justice reduce the need Labourlarge prisonsparty conference each holding that 1,500 he would were be “tough on crime and toughproblem on as the over-reliance causes of crime”, on imprisonment, while for imprisonment? conference that “prison works”. Certainly, proposed, with total capital costs of around there has been a historically large amount of Michael Howard told the Conservative party conference that “prisondrawing works”. resources Certainly, away from there preventive has and £1.2 billion. A maintenance backlog for the rehabilitative work. Should more be done to rehabilitate criminal justice legislation since 1994. Some beenexisting a historically estate may large cost amount a further of £1.2 criminal billion. justice legislation since 1994. Some also suggest that the prisoners serving less than twelve months, also suggest that the criminal justice system criminal justice system – in the parole process, for example – hasSo become is prison more good risk value-averse. for money? The 60% of whom are reconvicted within a – in the parole process, for example – has All three main political parties have proposals purposes of imprisonment are often given year but who often have no access to become more risk-averse. to reduce reoffending and divert those for as incapacitation, punishment, retribution, work or courses? whom prison is inappropriate. Of these, The Labour Government aimed to achieve Key statistics deterrence and rehabilitation. The “prison only the Liberal Democrats argue that they works” argument usually cites incapacitation: So, might the fiscal crisis prompt the kind of an overall net capacity of just over 96,000 would be able to cancel the prison building reassessment which prison reform advocates by 2014, mainly through two major prison Prison population in England and Wales reached a recordprisoners level of cannot almost normally 85,000 incommit April offences programme as a consequence. whilst incarcerated. Others, citing high would welcome? Possibly. However, some building programmes. Its Core Capacity 2010, an increase of 90% since 1993 commentators fear that the need to constrain Programme was to provide 12,500 places For some, the key issue is how to keep rates of re-offending, argue that prison is The prison estate has been overcrowded since 1994 expensive and ineffective. costs will damage efforts to address the by 2012, with capital construction costs pace effectively with the rising population; causes of reoffending, thus creating further In 2008/09 it cost an average of £39,600 to keep a prisoner in prison for a year of around £2 billion and additional annual overcrowding can make rehabilitation more Several substantial reports have recently pressure on prison places. running costs of around £480 million. A difficult as prisoners have reduced access to The UK has the second highest incarceration rate in Westernexamined Europe these issues: see, for example, further 7,500 places were planned through purposeful activity and are moved around Approximately one-half of adult prisoners reoffend withinwork one by year the Justiceof release Committee, the the New Prisons Programme (alongside the more frequently. Others see the fundamental Approximately three-quarters of juvenile prisoners reoffend within one year of release 96 97 .
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