Pact comment on Sentencing Review and early release scheme

On Tuesday 22 October, the next tranche of prisoners will be let out of prison under the government's early release scheme announced by the Justice Secretary in July. 
 
The Government is taking swift and decisive action to deal with the emergency-level prison crisis left by the last administration. The early release scheme is a serious step, but the consequences of failing to act now could be nothing short of catastrophic. Prisons are almost completely full.
  
However, if we want to prevent prison leavers from ending up back behind bars, the hard work starts now. Recall rates have shot up in recent years as people on probation are sent back to prison for breaching their licence conditions or reoffending. Around one in seven people currently in prison have previously been released and recalled. 
 
Probation staff play a huge role in ensuring prison leavers get the support they need to resettle in the community. They already face huge demands and will now be under even greater pressure. 
 
The Justice Secretary has taken the welcome step of announcing the recruitment of 1,000 extra probation staff, but these will take time to arrive. In the meantime, there is a real concern that prison leavers may not get the support they need.  
 
In the longer term, more investment is needed to make sure that people leave prison with the support they need to make a fresh start. A prison leaver’s most effective resettlement agency is often their family, who help them to get back on their feet and find a home and a job. If we’re serious about creating a sustainable justice system that works for everyone, investment in family services should be a priority.

The review of sentencing is much needed. The sentence inflation that we have witnessed in recent years has been a major driving factor behind the crisis in our prisons. Locking more and more people up for longer and longer has placed huge pressure on the system.

Getting rid of short sentences, which do more harm than good, would be a particularly welcome step. There is a wealth of evidence showing that community sentences are significantly more effective at reducing reoffending than a short stay in prison.
 
In the meantime, Pact will continue to work with prisons and our partners to do everything we can to support people leaving prison to resettle into communities and avoid reoffending.

Andy Keen-Downs, CEO Pact