Criminal justice in Wales exists within a unique policy environment, with prisons, probation and rehabilitation reserved to the UK Government, and key intersecting services like health, education and housing devolved to the Welsh Government.
Wales is also unique in that, despite having five adult male prison facilities and a young offender institution, it has no prison for adult women.
This inquiry is looking at the challenges and opportunities that are presented by this unique constitutional arrangement, examining where the UK and Welsh Governments are working well together, as well as identifying areas for improvement.
It will also consider the UK Government’s recent criminal justice policy initiatives, assessing the extent to which they have been tailored to meet the needs of Welsh offenders.
The Committee invites written submissions addressing any or all of the following areas:
- To what extent does UK Government policy and associated missions, as they relate to offender management, take Wales' public service delivery landscape into account?
- How effective are the intergovernmental relations between the UK and Welsh Governments - and their associated agencies - when it comes to supporting Welsh offenders?
- How suitable is the Welsh prison estate for keeping prisoners healthy, safe and ensuring they can access effective rehabilitation services?
- How effective are offender management services - both in custody and the community - in reducing reoffending and keeping offenders and the public safe, and are Welsh perspectives sufficiently accounted for during the commissioning of such services?
- Is there sufficient clarity, co-ordination and co-operation between government agencies, the private sector and third sector organisations involved in offender management and rehabilitation in Wales?
- How does the lack of a women's prison in Wales impact upon the experiences and rehabilitation of Welsh women offenders?
- To what extent is there parity between the services available to prisoners in England and those available to prisoners in Wales, including access to Welsh language services?