|
Ministers warned on prisoner rehab
Government neglect of vulnerable prisoners and poor education in jails is hampering rehabilitation efforts, the home affairs select committee has warned.
The MPs' report on the rehabilitation of prisoners is based on a year-long inquiry involving extensive prison visits and a "prison diary project".
They conclude prisoners should do "real" work and have more education and employment day release time.
The report says a much stronger drive to get ex-offenders into work is needed to reduce re-offending and prison over-crowding.
It calls for a structured approach to training and prison work based on industry standards, developed with the help of private firms and local communities.
The report questions the low importance attached by the government to work in prisons and criticises current approaches for dealing with drug-related problems.
There are also poor service for vulnerable groups, including women and the mentally ill.
Overcrowding
Committee chairman John Denham said that at present nearly three in five prisoners are reconvicted within two years of leaving prison.
"Prison overcrowding makes it difficult to reduce re-offending through rehabilitation, but not impossible. Overcrowding is certainly not an excuse for poor management," he added.
"There needs to be a far greater emphasis within prisons on 'real life' work if we are to stem re-offending.
"During our inquiry we have seen excellent examples of schemes that are helping to reduce re-offending by offering prisoners training, education and crucially, constructive prison work.
"For many prisoners experience of a normal working day will be a new experience. However, our inquiry has shown that this is vital if we are to try and prepare offenders for life after prison. Ex-prisoners with stable jobs and lifestyles are far less likely to re-offend."
Denham called for prison workshops to provide prisoners with experience of the "real working day".
"Basic labour shortages and skills gaps in the external labour market should be identified and matched to vocational training and work programmes in prisons," he suggested.
"We are also recommending increased use of day release schemes to allow prisoners to work with local firms in the community and to help them sustain links with their families, both of which play important roles in rehabilitation."
Reform
The report says the basic policy framework for rehabilitating offenders is now largely in place because of reforms to sentencing, the development of alternatives to prison and the establishment of the National Offender Management System.
It adds that despite a welcome decrease in re-offending rates, the scale of the overcrowding problem is massive and the government’s optimistic assessment that by 2009 the prison population will neatly match prison capacity rests on some questionable assumptions.
Overcrowding is also leading to a constant churn of prisoners through the system and high levels of transfers between prisons which are hampering rehabilitation programmes. The MPs say more needs to be done to minimise these transfers.
"Education, training, work and day release are not soft options," Denham added.
"This is about recognising what works, about fostering a work ethic and giving prisoners responsibility for their own future after they are released."
|
