Will there be a winter crime wave?

[Spartacus]

Today the Government announced the planned early release of prosioners who have served 40% of their sentence. There will be exceptions to safeguard tje public, and the releases will start from Srptember. This is just before the darker months kick in , ideal cover for some criminal activities. 

I'm all for correct rehabilitation and giving people a chance, but if the system is as broken as they say then will prisoners being released have had enough or the correct rehabilitation or training to give them a chance on the outside. 

Simply releasing them.early isn't enough, there needs to be improved probation offerings, proper offers of accommodation and work opportunities to allow ex prisoners to have a chance. 

Obviously there needs to be a solution to over crowding and poor conditions but unless there is a support plan in place then I fear for an increase in crime over the winter months. 

[Sephiroth]

I think it’s sweet that you think prisoners serving a full sentence are  currently “rehabilitated “ or “receive training”

That should happen of course - but given the state of prisons (and the entire criminal justice system) after 14 years of the last lot there is zero hope (and that lot wouldn’t even believe in rehabilitation anyway) 

as for the options and extra guidance you suggest, who could argue. But it’s all resources and money and if we had that we wouldn’t be in this position in first place 

sometime we just have to make the least bad of two awful options 

personally however, I’m not worried about a winter crime spree 

[Spartacus]

Sep, thank you for thinking I'm sweet but as someone who has worked with the prison and probation service I do have more knowledge of how things are. 

Prisoners don't sit in their cells 23 hours a day playing on playstations, there are programmes delivered to help them gain skills to get jobs outside plus if they have drug or drink issues they are offered help snd support. 

Now if someone is sentenced to 12 months, but gets out after 4 months then the training, help and support won't have taken effect and is therefore wasted. 

Yes, there is a problem that we don't have enough prison spaces or staff to run them and the question that should be asked is why the population is growing year on year.

The whole system needs money thrown at it with strategies for helping prisoners from arrest right through to release and reintroduction to society but most governments (this and the last) look at short term.quick gains without focusing on thw overall issues as the costs are eye watering so as a result prisoners come out, often with no where to live, jobs are hard to find if you have a record and universal credit isn't paid for the first 6 weeks after release or enough to really live on when it is paid. 

Therefore a large number of ex prisoners are let down by the overall system that was supposed to help them and feel their only course if action is a return to crime especially as getting caught may result in not going to jail due to over crowding or a very short lean sentence. 

[Sue]

The new government is well aware of the overall issues, if you read what they have said.

However given the terrible situation re prisons which they have been left with by the outgoing government, they are having to look at "least worst" options in the short term.

What else are they supposed to do? They can't build more prisons, recruit and train more probation and prison  staff, introduce rehabilitation programmes, address the underlying causes of crime amongst young people, etc etc etc,  overnight.

[vladi]

The previous government was also very aware of the issues and have funded an expansion of the prison estate during their tenure. Here is a list of the major developments that have been made or are in progress:-

·  HMP Five Wells:

• Location: Wellingborough, Northamptonshire
• Opened: February 2022
• Details: This is a Category C resettlement prison, with modern facilities designed to aid in the rehabilitation of offenders.

·  HMP Fosse Way:

• Location: Glen Parva, Leicestershire
• Under Construction: Expected completion in 2024
• Details: This is another Category C resettlement prison, built on the site of the former HMP Glen Parva. It aims to provide enhanced rehabilitation services.

·  HMP Full Sutton (expansion):

• Location: East Riding of Yorkshire
• Under Construction: Expected completion in the mid-2020s
• Details: This project involves the expansion of the existing HMP Full Sutton facility to increase its capacity.

·  HMP Garth (expansion):

• Location: Lancashire
• Under Construction: Expected completion in the mid-2020s
• Details: Similar to HMP Full Sutton, this project aims to expand the existing facilities to accommodate more prisoners.

·  HMP Millsike:

• Location: Near Full Sutton, East Yorkshire
• Under Construction: Expected completion in the mid-2020s
• Details: This new facility is planned to increase prison capacity in the region and provide modern rehabilitation services.
• 
  
   

[Spartacus]

Unfortunately Sue, the least worst option is also at a time when due to conditions and people not wanting to join, the police service is down on numbers and stretched to breaking point. 

Sadly a quick win in reducing prison numbers will cause more problems then it solves

 I agree, they can't turn prisons around over night but with delays in the courts after covid, shorter or no sentences to releave pressure and a stretched probation and equally stretched police service then maybe there needs to be more joined up thinking rather than here's a great sound bite, we've reduced over crowding .... 

[malumbu]

The title of the thread is sensationalist and comes across that you have a Daily Mail type agenda.  Which from subsequent posts you don't 

Heaven knows the solution but a political point is that austerity under Osbourne, subsequent regimes and widening inequality have worsened things 

Not an excuse for braking the law of course

[vladi]

1 hour ago, malumbu said:

The title of the thread is sensationalist and comes across that you have a Daily Mail type agenda. 

Yes , there has been much talk about prison overcrowding  in the political agenda recently but thereality is somewaht different and the UK comes out quite well by comparison with other countries,
 

• Germany

  • Occupancy Rate: Approximately 85% to 95%
  • Notes: Generally considered to have a well-regulated prison system, though some regions face higher occupancy rates.

• Turkey

  • Occupancy Rate: Approximately 120% to 130%
  • Notes: Turkey has faced significant overcrowding issues, especially following the 2016 coup attempt.

• France

  • Occupancy Rate: Approximately 115% to 120%
  • Notes: Overcrowding is a notable issue, particularly in remand centers (pre-trial detention).

• Italy

  • Occupancy Rate: Approximately 110% to 115%
  • Notes: Italy frequently deals with prison overcrowding, leading to ongoing legal and human rights challenges.

• Spain

  • Occupancy Rate: Approximately 70% to 80%
  • Notes: Spain's prison population has decreased in recent years, leading to less overcrowding.

• Ukraine

  • Occupancy Rate: Approximately 60% to 70%
  • Notes: Despite harsh conditions, Ukraine's occupancy rate is relatively low compared to its capacity.

• Poland

  • Occupancy Rate: Approximately 85% to 95%
  • Notes: Poland has faced challenges with overcrowding, but reforms are underway.

• Romania

  • Occupancy Rate: Approximately 110% to 120%
  • Notes: Romania has significant issues with overcrowding and prison conditions, leading to multiple rulings by the European Court of Human Rights.
    
    Ukraine with its harsh conditions could be low because they have offered convicts the chance for release if the join the army to fight against Russia - just as Russia has done with their convicts.

[Castleton]

22 hours ago, Spartacus said:

Today the Government announced the planned early release of prosioners who have served 40% of their sentence. There will be exceptions to safeguard tje public, and the releases will start from Srptember. This is just before the darker months kick in , ideal cover for some criminal activities. 

I'm all for correct rehabilitation and giving people a chance, but if the system is as broken as they say then will prisoners being released have had enough or the correct rehabilitation or training to give them a chance on the outside. 

Simply releasing them.early isn't enough, there needs to be improved probation offerings, proper offers of accommodation and work opportunities to allow ex prisoners to have a chance. 

Obviously there needs to be a solution to over crowding and poor conditions but unless there is a support plan in place then I fear for an increase in crime over the winter months. 

Sunak released 10,000 early

[Spartacus]

Not at 40% of their sentence though