Following the escape of Daniel Khalife from HMP Wandsworth at the start of September, attention quickly turned to the overcrowding and understaffing in prisons that potentially contributed Khalife’s ability to escape.
“This is a failure decades in the making, but a crisis growing on a daily basis. Every day we are seeing people released from prison with little notice, nowhere to live and without the support to help them turn their lives around on the outside.
Prisons are at breaking point. Overcrowded, under-resourced and inhumane, the current state of prisons in England and Wales is failing us all. With overcrowding so severe it is virtually impossible to ensure that people leave prison with the skills and support to be able to turn their lives around and turning their backs on offending.
We want to see urgent action from Government to relieve overcrowding in prisons by reintroducing the early release scheme and reducing the number of short sentences, remands and recalls.
Our prisons are in crisis. They are overcrowded, inhumane and falling apart across England and Wales. Overcrowding in jails creates problems at all points in the criminal justice system, meaning delays in getting justice for victims. Find out more about our the sustainable changes we’re calling for.
Prisons are currently running at 110% of capacity. This is Arrun’s story from the inside, affected by prison overcrowding.
Today (12 July 2024) the Government announced emergency measures to reduce the prison population, due to the overcrowding crisis. Campbell Robb, Nacro Chief Executive, commented: “Unprecedented times require a meaningful response.
Nacro wholeheartedly welcomes the announcement of prison reform, says Nacro’s Chief Executive, Jacob Tas. Read more.
Judges have been told to delay the sentencing of people currently on bail due to prison overcrowding, according to a report.
