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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.

Work news

Government lack of plan for prisons: Committee writes to Justice Secretary

Justice Committee criticises the Government's lack of a plan for dealing with the prisons crisis

Prisons crisis: Government accepts Committee's assessment but lacks coherent plan of action

Justice Committee publishes Government response to report on Prison Population 2022: planning for the future

Prisons crisis: Government's current approach inefficient, ineffective and unsustainable

Justice Committee publishes report on future of UK prison population

Officials questioned on HMP Birmingham and prison population

Justice Committee holds a combined session to examine HMP Birmingham and prison population 2022

11 December 2018

Day-to-day running of prisons examined

Justice Committee holds seventh evidence session on Prison Population 2022: planning for the future

19 November 2018

Reform of the prison estate examined

Justice Committee continues inquiry into prison population

13 November 2018

Committee Chair welcomes report on prison healthcare

Chair of the Justice Committee welcomes Health and Social Care Committee report on prison healthcare

1 November 2018

Prison population 2022: planning for the future examined

Pre-commencement hearing: Chair of the Parole Board and Prison Population 2022 examined

26 October 2018

Prison system examined by Committee

Justice Committee continues its inquiry into prison population 2022: planning for the future

11 October 2018

Minister of State for Justice questioned on prison population

Justice Committee holds evidence session on Prison Population 2022: planning for the future

Prison Population 2022: planning for the future

Justice Committee launches a new inquiry into prison population

20 October 2017

Contact us

Email: justicecom@parliament.uk
Phone: 0207 219 3939 (general enquiries)
Address: House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA