18 March 2025 - Prison culture: governance, leadership and staffing - Oral evidence

The Justice and Home Affairs Committee continues its inquiry into prison culture: governance, leadership and staffing. Today, it is holding two separate sessions. In the earlier session, it will hear from witnesses who have spent time in prison and who have experience of mentoring and working with ex-offenders. In a separate session, it will hear from the national charity Women in Prison about the experience of women prisoners.

Possible Questions on lived experience:

• How would you describe the culture inside prison, and how does it shape the daily experiences of prisoners? How did the condition of buildings affect culture?  
• How visible and engaged were prison governors in the prisons you were in, and what impact did this have on the prison environment?   
• In your experience, what qualities make a good prison officer, and how do these qualities impact prisoner-officer relationships?
• What skills or development opportunities were available to you in prison, and how well did they prepare you for life after release?
• When you were serving your prison sentence, did you see it as more punitive or rehabilitative? How do you think that shaped your reintegration? 
• What was your experience of the prisoner complaints and grievance processes? 

 Possible Questions for Women in Prison

• What are the biggest challenges faced by women in prison, compared with male prisoners? 
• How visible and engaged are prison governors in women's prisons, and what impact does their leadership have on the prison environment? 
• How well do you think prison staff are trained to understand and respond to the specific needs of women in prison? 
• Is there sufficient support to equip women for a successful reintegration into society? 

Further information

• About Parliament: Select Committees
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