Five priorities for the Government 2024
Nacro looks forward to working with whichever party forms the next government to help ensure everyone has the chance to succeed and the support they need to fulfil their potential.
The Government’s SDS40 emergency measures to tackle the prisons overcrowding crisis come into effect on 10th September 2024. It means those who are eligible, will be released after they have completed 40% of their sentence, rather than the standard 50%. People on sentences relating to sexual violence and certain domestic abuse offences wont be eligible for release. There will be two tranches of releases. The first one is on 10 September, and relates to those serving sentences of five years or less. The second tranch is on 22 October for those having served sentences of five years or more. SDS40 is only a temporary measure and will be reviewed in 18 months time.
Campbell Robb, Nacro, Chief Executive comments: “The Government needed to take action in the short-term to tackle the prisons crisis but inevitably this is going to cause problems elsewhere in a broken system.
“We already see in our services how difficult it can be for people to find somewhere to live after prison, even with the Government schemes already available. Unfortunately any increase in people being released from prison will inevitably put additional pressure on already stretched services and a challenging housing market.
“We see every day how having somewhere safe and secure to live is the foundation people need to build a new life for themselves and move away from crime. Without somewhere to live, its almost impossible to get or keep a job, to access healthcare or substance misuse treatment and wider support – all the things we know are critical to reducing reoffending.
“Releasing people early from prison is a short-term fix to a bigger problem which has been decades in the making. Whilst emergency measures to ease overcrowding are now necessary, the Government does have choices in the longer-term. We must use this moment to move away from crisis management and take the steps now to build an effective justice system in the long-term which serves victims, communities and all of us. This includes investing in more effective community sentences and reversing the planned increase in the prison population, and reinvesting in housing and resettlement support in the community to reduce reoffending. Whilst we know there are difficult choices in the upcoming budget, fixing our broken criminal justice system must be prioritised.”
