Committees

Prison Population 2022: planning for the future inquiry

Inquiry

The Committee agrees with Justice Secretary David Gauke that there is a very strong case for abolishing sentences of six months or less altogether.

Re-offending costs an estimated £15 billion a year; the report recommends that there must be a focus on investing services to reduce this, thus cutting crime and reducing the overall size of the prison population - which is increased through repeat imprisonment.

The report argues that the Government’s focus on addressing safety and decency in prisons has come at the expense of rehabilitation.

The Ministry of Justice needs to refocus its efforts to enable a dual approach to maintain both safety and decency, as well as improve rehabilitation.

Government response published

Ministers need a clear plan of action to tackle the problem of rising prison populations and the health and safety of prisoners.

The Justice Committee welcomes the Government’s agreement with the issues raised in its Prison Population 2022: planning for the future report, but says ministers have failed to commit to a sufficient plan of action to effectively tackle the crisis faced.

This inquiry into the prison population focuses on:

  • Who is in prison and who is expected to be imprisoned over the next 5 years
  • The reasons prisoners are there, why they stay there and why they return
  • Whether the Ministry of Justice and prison services currently have a credible approach to accommodating the changes anticipated.

Upcoming events

View all events

No upcoming events scheduled

Past events

Tuesday 11 December 2018
10:00am Public
Oral evidence session 11 December 2018
Prison Population 2022: planning for the future inquiry - Oral evidence
10:00am
  • Oral evidence
HMP Birmingham inquiry - Oral evidence
10:00am
  • Oral evidence
The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Wednesday 21 November 2018
10:00am Public
Prison Population 2022: planning for the future inquiry - Oral evidence 21 November 2018
The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Tuesday 13 November 2018
10:00am Public
Prison Population 2022: planning for the future inquiry - Oral evidence 13 November 2018
Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Tuesday 30 October 2018
11:00am Public
Prison Population 2022: planning for the future inquiry - Oral evidence 30 October 2018
The Wilson Room, Portcullis House

Contact us

  • Email: justicecom@parliament.uk
  • Phone: 020 7219 6684 (general enquiries) | 020 7219 3051 (media enquiries)
  • Address: House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA