What the government should be focusing on, according to Howard League members in prison

Prisons are a unique space. If you are living in one, the distance between you and government policy is paper thin. There are few other places in society where government decisions have such an immediate impact on one’s life.

Yet without the right to vote, most people in prison have few means to influence the policies governing them. It is no surprise, then, that Howard League members in prison are keen followers of politics and come to us with interesting and insightful ideas for how criminal justice policy could be improved.   

After the general election was called in May, we asked our members in prison what they thought the incoming government should prioritise, and any solutions they would suggest. Responses ranged from broad-stroke justice reforms, through to the daily mechanics of prison life. Insights such as these are at the centre of our work with politicians, the media, the judiciary, and the public. 

We will be sharing some of the messages we received in two blogposts. This is the first, focusing on issues inside prisons – sentence planning, bureaucracy, staff, and cost of living. Look out for a second – on community supervision, support for families, and wider reforms – in the near future. 

 

Sentence planning and progression 

Sentence plans should form the basis of how time in prison is spent, comprising (of) a bespoke set of goals tailored to a prisoner’s rehabilitative needs. A well-designed plan will incrementally reduce risk so that the subject is released back into society in a better position than when they arrived in prison. Yet with staffing shortages, overcrowding, and excessive time spent in cells, these plans are often lacking in detail, or absent altogether.  

Without a sentence plan, rehabilitative work fails to happen, and time is wasted. Yet even those with sentence plans can struggle, particularly if they are directed to complete courses which are not available at their prison. 

“Having been incarcerated four-plus years, I still have not received a final sentence plan. My last meeting with a Probation Offender Manager was November 2023, unannounced, no file evident in their presence and no knowledge what I have achieved.” – Christian 

“The panel at my 2023 hearing directed me to complete a ‘domestic violence’ course. However, all establishments that I had been referred to have rejected my case due to not suitable or don’t fit the criteria. Due to this I am back to square one and as of 2024, I have not been accepted…Lack of courses available and a huge lack of efficiency.” – Mohammed / Mumdy

“Lack of progression to category C conditions due to population pressure and therefore access to courses, and ultimately category D, followed by potential knock back at parole. Whilst I have only been at Cat C for seven months, some have been waiting 18 to 36 months for a move.” – Dan

“Let prisoners take their programs earlier on in their sentence so they can progress, freeing up spaces in closed prisons for more deserving prisoners. Also expand the amount of classes per year. At Swinfen Hall most of the programs run once a year. There is no way everyone will do their program here before they get released.” – Anonymous

Bureaucracy 

The issues with sentence planning touch upon some of the wider bureaucratic issues faced by people in prison. The archaic paper-based systems in place were highlighted frequently in the responses that we received, which are felt to erode trust and accountability.  

“Since coming here, it took almost 2 years before I saw an Offender Manager…My last jail you had a sentence plan meeting each year and had regular contact with OMU. A better communication would work well here. Easier Complaint procedures and more openness on issues when dealt with.” – Brian 

“All applications and complaints should be at least “Duplicate”. Video cameras should be worn by all staff on landings at the first sign of an altercation, turned on. Failure to do so should be punished. Real accountability. Not just platitudes and inaction as well get rid of obfuscation.” – Alphonso

“Make report writers accountable for misleading information, compelling them to be clear, accurate, and tell the truth.” – Simon

“Poor internal communication, the intranet is used only a fraction of what it could be used for…Open up technology access.” – Stephen

Staff 

Good staff can be the difference between a productive prison and a chaotic, pernicious custodial environment. But members wrote to us about staff shortages, high turnover and inexperience on the landings.  

“Prisons all appear to be short staffed and many staff are new with no real life experience, they know nothing about our sentences and seem to think issuing written warnings or adjudications is how to deal with minor issues. Regime activities get cancelled last minute and we never know what our day will be. It’s very frustrating and causes behaviour problems.” – James / Honest Irish

“There is never money for anything, consistent high turnover of staff, the use of teenagers straight from college as officers with little or no life experiences. The lack of investment over decades, the increase of prisoner population and lengths of sentences and the lack of rehabilitation has created a prison system which is broken.” – Tahir

“In all prisons we are hearing of prison staff shortage. In some places it is blatantly seen that staff are changing routinely shifts and openly abusing the system…prison officers tend to lock prisoners down during association times, evening and at disrupting prisoners free time.” – George

“Even here at a relatively relaxed prison with little of the drugs and violence of other establishments, insufficient staff, lack of purposeful activity and no rehabilitative culture leads to a community that results in a mainly apathetic and cynical population – not a preparation for a positive crime-free life on release.” – Bruce

Cost of living 

Like those outside prison, people living in prison have been hit by the cost-of-living crisis. Wages are low and inconsistent, and the provisions of food and phone credit are limited. Issues like these have an immediate effect on prison life, but also lead to debt, bullying, and further crime. At the same time, members have noticed that some services in prison have been affected by funding pressures. 

“[L]ow wages, rising canteen prices and declining food variety and quality impact prisoners’ daily lives.” – Bruce

“Prison wages is obviously a main point for everybody. Prisoners in debt a big issue nationwide … DHL have the monopoly with their ‘canteen’ prices. Way too expensive and lots of price increases and the prisoners wage stays the same.” – Matthew

“Not being paid a decent wage, its slave labour and a job done in prison made me £2 per day making settees chairs for council packs…This creates debt bullying, self harm, depression, and I personally turned to drugs…Value prisoners who work, give 75% wage to victims of crime (Charities) and 10% in prisoner savings for release and 15% to spend in prison, pay us hourly wages even 5 an hour, what a change this would make as victims deserve it, and prisoners also deserve an average wage for work.” – Steven  

 

Our next blogpost will look at members’ observations on issues in the wider criminal justice system, beyond prisons. 

Tim Kerr
Membership Officer 

Comments

• Charlie Poyser says:

  27 Sep 2024 at 4:48 am

  I really don’t need to add anything to what’s already been said in this blog post. Having been released in July, I can recognise all these comments as a realistic appraisal of the state of the prison estate.

  Reply