Prisons are on the ‘brink of collapse’ due to the increasing severity of sentences according to a report out today commissioned by the Government
The Independent Sentencing Review, chaired by former Tory Minister David Gauke concluded that an “incoherent approach” towards sentencing in recent decades has fuelled the current prisons crisis, leaving jails in England and Wales dangerously close to full capacity.
It found that the spike in prisoner numbers is not the result of higher crime levels but the result of decisions by successive governments that have included a “tough on crime” narrative focused primarily on punishment in the form of longer custodial sentences.
“Rather than approach sentencing policy based on the evidence of what is likely to be most effective in reducing crime and reducing reoffending, too often the knee-jerk response has been to increase sentence lengths as a demonstration of government action,” the report says.
Back in 1993, the average time for an indictable offence was just six months. It’s now more than 22 months.
“This has left England and Wales with a very high prison population by historic and international standards, which has diverted resources from other parts of the criminal justice system that could contribute more to reducing reoffending.”
“There is evidently opportunity for public service reform where resources could be more effectively deployed to reduce crime and the number of victims.” says the author
The next phase of this review will deliver recommendations to respond to the capacity challenge, both in the short and long-term
