Prisoners need 'real work'

Friday, 7 January 2005 11:46 AM

Prisoners need to be given "real work" on a conventional hours basis if rehabilitation is to be successful.

That is the conclusion reached by a critical new report from the Home Affairs Select Committee which calls for a new structure to prison work programmes and raises severe concerns about the problems of overcrowding.

The MPs argue that prisoners should be given the opportunity to work on a 9 to 5 basis, training and work to be based around industry standards and private firms, with the community having greater involvement.

It warns the scale of the overcrowding problem is "massive" and leads to a churn of prisoners through the system which hampers rehabilitation programmes. Mandatory drug testing for all those entering jail is called for, combined with more improved drug and alcohol treatment.

A "radical re-think" in the treatment of short-term prisoners, who are currently not included in rehabilitation programmes is also demanded, alongside better intervention programmes for young prisoners. Concerns are also raised by the over-representation of minority ethnic groups within the system.

The report also suggests an extension of day release schemes to allow prisoners to both undertake work and retain links with their families

Commenting, committee chairman and former Labour Minister John Denham, said: "Currently, nearly three in five prisoners are reconvicted within two years of leaving prison. Prison overcrowding makes it difficult to reduce re-offending through rehabilitation, but not impossible. Overcrowding is certainly not an excuse for poor management.

"There needs to be a far greater emphasis within prisons on 'real life' work if we are to stem re-offending."

He called for prison workshops to "provide prisoners with experience of the real working day by encouraging them to obtain recognised qualifications and marketable skills though on the job training in partnership with firms in the local area. Basic labour shortages and skills gaps in the external labour market should be identified and matched to vocational training and work programmes in prisons."

Mr Denham added: "Education, training, work and day release are not soft options. This is about recognising what works, about fostering a work ethic and giving prisoners responsibility for their own future after they are released."

Responding, director of the Prison Reform Trust Juliet Lyon said that the report "blows the whistle on an overcrowded prison system which releases people more, not less, likely to re-offend.

"The report highlights the shortcomings of a prison system that is warehousing far too many mentally ill offenders, drug addicts and people serving short sentences for minor crimes such as shoplifting and failing miserably to address the causes of their offending. It is vital to improve regimes by providing more opportunities for prisoners to gain employable skills but it is equally important not to turn prison into a second rate social service. Solutions to reducing re-offending lie outside the prison gate with properly resourced mental health, drug and alcohol treatment, education and training programmes, social housing and financial support services."

She however queried why there was no mention of the "urgent need" to provide immediate financial support for prisoners upon release.

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