Today (03.04.25) the Ministry of Justice has published new data on the rising cost of prisons in England and Wales. The cost of sending someone to prison for a year is now £53,801, an increase of 5.3% in one year, highlighting the sharp economic cost of our country’s obsession with imprisonment.
It’s time to celebrate this year’s staff awards winners, an opportunity to celebrate unsung heroes all over the organisation.
Today (18 March 2025) HM Inspector of Prisons published a report on the women’s prison HMP Styal. Findings from the report show soaring rates of self-harm and substance misuse alongside a widespread failure to secure housing for women on release. Nacro’s CEO Campbell Robb, comments on the report.
Today (04.03.25) the Government announced that they will no longer place girls in Young Offenders’ Institutions. This measure has been implemented immediately following recommendations from Susannah Hancock’s independent review, ‘Delivering the best for girls in custody’.
We are pleased to have retained the Matrix Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) accreditation. The Matrix standard is a Department for Education accreditation which validates that our services are thorough and sufficient in meeting our needs.
Nacro’s Head of Policy and Service User Engagement, Andrea Coady, highlights the five key take-aways from the Sentencing Review’s report ‘History and Trends in Sentencing’ (published 18th February 2025). The report outlines the current prison population overcrowding crisis and the drivers of this.
Nacro comments on Part 1 of the Independent Sentencing Review, set up by the Government’s Ministry of Justice and chaired by David Gauke, focussing on the history and trends of sentencing. CEO Campbell Robb suggests the report “offers long-overdue recognition that the agenda to be “tough on crime” adopted by successive Governments has ultimately propelled the prison overcrowding crisis”.
Norbert had a difficult time growing up and as a young man. He had struggles with alcohol and mental health issues. He was homeless before he was helped by Nacro into his own flat.
Nacro comments on Ministry of Justice announced changes to the probation services. “A properly resourced probation service is a vital part of the criminal justice system, and is key to tackling reoffending and solving the prisons overcrowding crisis.”
On the 28th of January, Nacro and Lord Blunkett hosted a parliamentary reception at the House of Lords to mark 50 years of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. The event was a significant moment to reflect on the impact of this landmark legislation and the continued need for reform to support people with criminal records in rebuilding their lives.
