Justice Committee to take evidence on the Government’s response to prison population pressures
The Justice Committee will hold an evidence session with academics and stakeholders, including Professor Nick Hardwick, former HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, on Tuesday, 9 January, as part of its inquiry into the future prison population and estate capacity.
MPs on the cross-party committee will take evidence on the pressures facing the prison estate, including overcrowding, the deteriorating condition of old prison buildings and the lack of staff to safely manage and rehabilitate offenders.
Discussion will focus on the Government’s approach, including reforms announced last October by the Lord Chancellor, plus plans to rent prison capacity abroad.
Meeting details
Panel One will comprise: Professor Nick Hardwick, Professor of Criminal Justice at the School of Law, Royal Holloway University of London; Rob Allen, independent researcher and consultant on criminal justice and prisons and Richard Garside, Director, Centre for Crime and Justice Studies.
Panel Two will include: Anne Fox, Chief Executive Officer, Clinks; Mark Day, Deputy Director, Prison Reform Trust and Sonya Ruparel, Chief Executive, Women in Prison.
The Justice Committee’s inquiry is examining the projected changes to the size and composition of the prison population, the implications of this and the deliverability of the Government’s prison expansion programme. It is also examining the efficacy of the Government’s strategy to safely manage the prison population.