A new book examined who was sent to prison and what happened to them while they were there; explained how the prison system and staff in England and Wales were organized; looked at prisoners' families and the wider community; and offered a vision of the future of the prison system.
Source: Andrew Coyle, Understanding Prisons: Key issues in policy and practice, Open University Press (01280 823388)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Dec
The prisons inspectorate for England and Wales said that Asian prisoners, particularly young offenders, were more likely than any other racial group to report experiencing racist bullying in prison, particularly from other prisoners.
Source: Parallel Worlds: A thematic review of race relations in prisons, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales (020 7035 2103)
Links: Report | Community Care report
Date: 2005-Dec
The government gave a further response to a report by a joint committee of MPs and peers on deaths in custody.
Source: Deaths in Custody: Further Government Response, Second Report (Session 2005-06), HL 60 and HC 651, Joint Committee on Human Rights (House of Lords and House of Commons), TSO (0870 600 5522)
Date: 2005-Nov
A report said that prison officers should play a greater role in the education of inmates.
Source: Julia Braggins and Jenny Talbot, Wings of Learning: The role of the prison officer in supporting prisoner education, Centre for Crime and Justice Studies/King's College London (020 7848 1688)
Links: Guardian report
Date: 2005-Nov
A report examined how mentally ill offenders (men) reached prison and were treated there. It said that prisons were ill-suited for managing mental illness, staff had profound difficulties coping with the complex needs of mentally ill offenders, and the mental health of many deteriorated as a result of the stressful conditions in prison.
Source: Dora Rickford and Kimmett Edgar, Troubled Inside: Responding to the mental health needs of men in prison, Prison Reform Trust (020 7251 5070)
Links: Community Care report | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Nov
A new book examined media treatment of prisons and punishment, and its relationship to public attitudes and government penal policy.
Source: Paul Mason (ed.), Captured by the Media: Prison discourse in popular culture, Willan Publishing (01884 840337)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Nov
Aggregate results were published for the 29 probation areas inspected in 2003-04 and 2004-05.
Source: Effective Supervision Inspection: Aggregate results for the29 probation areas inspected in 2003-04 and 2004-05, HM Inspectorate of Probation (020 7035 2200)
Links: Report | Home Office press release
Date: 2005-Nov
A report said that prisons provided inconsistent and often sub-standard healthcare, despite high levels of HIV and hepatitis among prisoners.
Source: Press release 23 November 2005, Prison Reform Trust (020 7251 5070)
Links: PRT press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Nov
A new book examined the use of imprisonment, and the character of prisons. It argued that the continued, extensive use of imprisonment could not simply be explained or justified by the incidence of crime.
Source: Andrew Coyle, Understanding Prisons: Key issues in policy and practice, Open University Press (01280 823388)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Nov
A report presented the findings of research into drug supply and demand in six local prisons (five male and one female) in England. Interviews with prisoners and ex-prisoners indicated that illicit drug use was occurring in all six prisons. Although the amounts involved were often small, some prisoners were able to use on a semi-regular basis and sustain a low-level drug dependency.
Source: Clarissa Penfold, Paul Turnbull and Russell Webster, Tackling Prison Drug Markets: An exploratory qualitative study, Online Report 39/05, Home Office (web publication only)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Oct
A report examined drug-related mortality among newly released offenders in the years 1998 to 2000.
Source: Michael Farrell and John Marsden, Drug-related Mortality Among Newly Released Offenders 1998 to 2000, Online Report 40/05, Home Office (web publication only)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Oct
An audit report said that the government should improve its contingency arrangements in case the number of prisoners in custody continued to rise. Previous projections of the number of prison places required had not proved reliable in the long term.
Source: Dealing with Increased Numbers in Custody, HC 458 (Session 2005-06), National Audit Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf) | NAO press release
Date: 2005-Oct
A report outlined, for the first time, the profile of prisoners using a drug treatment service, and discussed the implications of the data.
Source: Chris May, The CARAT Drug Service In Prisons: Findings from the research database, Research Findings 262, Home Office (020 7273 2084)
Links: Findings (pdf)
Date: 2005-Oct
A think-tank report said that 45 per cent of prisoners lost contact with their family while inside: of those, roughly 27 per cent went on to re-offend.
Source: Investing in Family Ties: Reoffending and family visits to prisoners, New Philanthropy Capital (0207 401 8080)
Links: Report (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Oct
A report examined the role of charities working with people in prison and their families. Charitable activities could reduce the likelihood of re-offending, enhance the effectiveness of the penal system, and improve the quality of life for people in custody and for their families.
Source: Lenka Setkova and Sarah Sandford, Inside and Out: People in prison and life after release, New Philanthropy Capital (0207 401 8080)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | NPC press release
Date: 2005-Oct
The European Court of Human Rights ruled that a blanket ban on sentenced prisoners voting in elections violated article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights.
Source: Hirst v. the United Kingdom (No. 2, European Court of Human Rights (+33 0 3884 12018)
Links: Text of judgement | PRT press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Oct
The government began consultation on proposals to introduce commissioning into the provision of probation services. Probation boards would be abolished in their existing form, becoming one of a number of possible providers of services under contract.
Source: Restructuring Probation to Reduce Re-offending, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | UNISON press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Oct
A report said that the government was making progress against only half of the recommendations in a parliamentary report (published in 2004) on prison education.
Source: Inside Track One Year On, Forum on Prisoner Education (0870 756 5795)
Links: Report (pdf) | FPE press release
Date: 2005-Sep
The Home Secretary proposed the use of 'community prisons' to enable short-term offenders to be closer to their families. But he dropped the policy of limiting the size of the prison population to 80,000.
Source: Speech by Charles Clarke MP (Secretary of State for Home Affairs), 19 September 2005,
Links: Text of speech (pdf) | Action for Prisoner's Families press release | Nacro press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Sep
An inspectorate report examined how well the probation service identified and addressed the accommodation needs of offenders. It highlighted the impact of the work on the risk of harm to offenders, the likelihood of re-offending, and prospects for successful community re-integration.
Source: An Essential Element of Effective Practice: An inspection of National Probation Service work on offender accommodation, HM Inspectorate of Probation (020 7035 2200)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jul
The probation service inspectorate published its annual report for 2004-05.
Source: 2004/2005 Annual Report, HM Inspectorate of Probation (020 7035 2200)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jul
The prison service published its annual report for 2004-05.
Source: Annual Report and Accounts April 2004-March 2005, HC 193, HM Prison Service, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf links) | HMPS press release
Date: 2005-Jul
The prison population for England and Wales was projected to reach between 76,520 and 90,780 by 2011.
Source: Nisha de Silva, Paul Cowell and Terence Chow, Updated and Revised Prison Population Projections 2005-2011, Statistical Bulletin 10/05 (web publication only)
Links: Bulletin (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jul
A new book brought together a group of leading authorities on the effects of imprisonment. It suggested ways of mitigating its often devastating personal and psychological consequences.
Source: Alison Liebling and Shadd Maruna (eds.), The Effects of Imprisonment, Willan Publishing (01884 840337)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Jul
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on prison education.
Source: Government Response to the House of Commons Education and Skills Committee Report - Prison Education, Cm 6562, Department for Education and Skills, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response (pdf) | MPs report | DfES press release
Date: 2005-Jun
A report described the "desperate needs" of children in penal custody and on release back into the community, based on the experiences of a legal centre to promote the legal and human rights of individual children in custody.
Source: Children in Custody: Promoting the legal and human rights of children, Howard League for Penal Reform (020 7249 7373)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Jun
A report examined the experiences of juvenile prisoners in 2003-04. 10 per cent of all the youths surveyed said they had been hit or kicked by a member of staff. Young black males were twice as likely as white youths to be assaulted by prison staff.
Source: Kate Eves, Juveniles in Custody 2003-2004: An analysis of children s experiences of prison, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales (020 7035 2103) and Youth Justice Board
Links: Children Now report | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jun
A report examined ways of reducing the prison population in Scotland.
Source: Reducing the Prison Population: Penal policy and social choices, Scottish Consortium on Crime & Criminal Justice (0131 669 4484)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-May
A briefing paper said that there had been a dramatic rise in people being returned to custody, and that this was one of the hidden factors behind the increase in the prison population.
Source: Enver Solomon, Recycling Offenders Through Prison, Prison Reform Trust (020 7251 5070)
Links: Briefing paper (pdf) | Guardian report | BBC report
Date: 2005-May
A report said that all prisoners should have access to the internet for educational, rehabilitation and recreational purposes.
Source: Steve Taylor with Kim Marsh, Catherine Atthill and Judith Williams, Internet Inside, Forum on Prisoner Education (0870 756 5795)
Links: Summary (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2005-May
A new book examined the incidence of death in prisons in England and Wales, and called for reform of the penal system.
Source: David Wilson, Death at the Hands of the State, Howard League for Penal Reform (020 7249 7373)
Links: HLPR press release
Date: 2005-Apr
The Management of Offenders and Sentencing Bill was dropped due to lack of parliamentary time before the general election. The Bill would have established the National Offender Management Service, amalgamating the Prison and Probation Services; amended sentencing guidelines; and introduced variable fines in magistrates' courts.
Source: Management of Offenders and Sentencing Bill [HL], Home Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Bill | Explanatory notes
Date: 2005-Apr
A report by a committee of MPs said that the standard of education in prisons was 'inadequate and unacceptable'. It urged the government to undertake research to identify what type of education and training provision would have the greatest impact on meeting the individual learning needs of prisoners, and on providing them with real alternatives to crime on release.
Source: Prison Education, Seventh Report (Session 2004-05), HC 114, House of Commons Education and Skills Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Mar
The government began consultation on a communities and civil renewal strategy for the new National Offender Management Service (merging the prisons and probation services). It said there was a need to build on existing practice in engaging with communities, working with victims, and supporting offenders.
Source: Together We Can Reduce Re-offending and Increase Public Confidence: NOMS communities and civil renewal strategy, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Consultation document (pdf)
Date: 2005-Mar
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs and peers on deaths in custody. It said that reducing the number of such deaths was a 'key priority'.
Source: Government Response to the Third Report from the Committee: Deaths in Custody, Eleventh Report (Session 2004-05), HL 69 and HC 416, Joint Committee on Human Rights (House of Lords and House of Commons), TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response | Committee report
Date: 2005-Mar
A report said that prisoners were less likely to re-offend if they were able to maintain contact with their family while in custody. Having supportive family and friends could help prisoners cope during their sentence, and rehabilitate people back into society - preventing them from returning to a life of crime.
Source: Keeping in Touch, Prison Reform Trust (020 7251 5070)
Links: PRT press release
Date: 2005-Feb
A committee of the Scottish Parliament published a report on rehabilitation in Scotland's prisons. It raised concerns about the impact of budget savings on rehabilitation services, and criticized the attitude that little or nothing could be done with short-term prisoners.
Source: Inquiry into the Effectiveness of Rehabilitation in Prisons, 3rd Report 2005 (Session 2), SP Paper 291, Scottish Parliament Justice 1 Committee, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | SP press release
Date: 2005-Feb
A report described the main findings from a longitudinal study of 464 prisoners starting basic skills training between December 2001 and July 2002. The main aim of the study was to assess changes in prisoners literacy and numeracy levels. It also examined the relationship between basic skills education and post-release offending and employment outcomes.
Source: Duncan Stewart, An Evaluation of Basic Skills Training for Prisoners, Research Findings 260, Home Office (020 7273 2084)
Links: Findings (pdf)
Date: 2005-Feb
An inspectorate report said that there was little evidence, either nationally or in local probation areas, of a strategic approach by the probation service to work with racially motivated offenders.
Source: "I'm not a racist but": An Inspection of National Probation Service Work with Racially Motivated Offenders, HM Inspectorate of Probation (020 7035 2200)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2005-Feb
The prisons inspectorate said that prisons in England and Wales were operating 'perilously close' to full capacity: they were recording nearly two self-inflicted deaths a week, and were discharging prisoners who had been unable to benefit from the education, training and resettlement support they needed.
Source: Annual Report 2003-04, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jan
A report by a committee of MPs said that overcrowding was having a 'hugely damaging impact' on the delivery of rehabilitative regimes across the prison estate.
Source: Rehabilitation of Prisoners, First Report (Session 2004-05), HC 193, House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Howard League press release | Nacro press release | Community Care report
Date: 2005-Jan
Researchers found that mandatory drug testing of prisoners appeared to be actively discouraging drug use, particularly of cannabis. But there was very little evidence of the programme being used to direct prisoners into treatment and support programmes.
Source: Nicola Singleton et al., The Impact of Mandatory Drug Testing in Prisons, Online Report 03/05, Home Office (web publication only)
Links: Report (pdf) | Findings (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jan
A report said that there was a need to reassess the merits of prison privatization, and the ethics of large companies profiting from the incarceration of people.
Source: Private Punishment: Who Profits?, Prison Reform Trust (020 7251 5070)
Links: PRT press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jan
The National Offender Management Service (formerly the Prison and Probation Services) launched a new drug strategy, setting out a comprehensive approach for the management and treatment of problematic drug users throughout the correctional services.
Source: Strategy for the Management and Treatment of Problematic Drug Users within the Correctional Services, Home Office (0870 000 1585) | House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 20 January 2005, columns 44-45WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Strategy (pdf) | Hansard | Home Office press release
Date: 2005-Jan
A bulletin described the key findings from a national five-year inspection programme which examined how the National Probation Service sought to ensure the needs of offenders were addressed, made available appropriate support services and accommodation, and promoted social inclusion and community safety.
Source: Supporting People: A five-year national inspection programme, Audit Commission (0800 502030), HM Inspectorate of Probation, and Commission for Social Care Inspection
Links: Bulletin (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jan
An audit report said that the Scottish Prison Service should assess more closely whether its skills courses and behavioural programmes for prisoners were successful in reducing re-offending rates.
Source: Correctional Opportunities for Prisoners, Audit Scotland for Accounts Commission and Auditor General (0131 477 1234)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Audit Scotland press release (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jan
The government estimated that the prison population in England and Wales would be between 76,000 and 87,500 by 2011. The new projections reflected changes in sentencing trends, and showed a smaller growth in the prison population than previously estimated.
Source: Nisha de Silva, Prison Population Projections 2005-2011: England and Wales, Home Office (020 7273 2084)
Links: Projections (pdf) | Home Office press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jan