Prison Overcrowding
Discuss the current extent and associated problems of prison overcrowding in the UK.
The prison population of the UK has steadily been increasing every year since 1993 when the number was 41,000 to a current figure of 82,000 (office of national statistics).
This essay will discuss this doubling of prison population in the last 17 years. It will examine the suggested reasons for this rise, a statistical breakdown of the structure of the inmate population, the financial and social effects also the implications on the effectiveness of prison as a useful means of crime control. According to the ‘Prison Reform Trust’ one of the main reasons for the growth (as apposed to more crime which has remained stable or even fallen in the same …show more content…
In a search for empty places inmates are often moved to different prisons which can be anywhere in the country. In 2001, 37,000 prisoners were being held over 50 miles away from home, for 5,000 of these the distance was more than 150 miles (Howard League for Penal Reform).
This relocation often leads to a displacement, not only physically, but also emotionally from society, friends and family and can directly bring about a breakdown of relationship, marriage, child bonding and more. All of the above could make re-integration into society much more difficult to achieve, thus leading to further exclusion for the offender. This is one marked effect of overcrowding in the British Prison …show more content…
Although there are opportunities available to prisoners to spend part of their day unlocked these are restricted by sheer volume of numbers. A prisoner is entitled to one hour exercise per day although this is subject to the Governors discretion and can be cancelled by factors such as staff shortage, weather conditions or security “Security referrers to the obligation of the prison service to prevent inmates escaping. Control is the obligation of the prison service to prevent prisoners being disruptive” (Newburn.T. p.689) There are opportunities to work in jobs such as kitchens, laundry, cleaning or assisting officers in limited roles concerning day to day duties involved in running the prison, these may be in reception where new inmates are issued with prison clothes, blankets and cutlery. The prison library is often organised by trusted inmates. All of the above roles or jobs are given to inmates serving substantial sentences because there would be little point training an inmate with only a short sentence. However these job opportunities in prison are very limited in number, an inmate can apply for work at the beginning of his/her sentence but never be offered any position because of the sheer number of applicants (also the length of his/her
The prison population of the UK has steadily been increasing every year since 1993 when the number was 41,000 to a current figure of 82,000 (office of national statistics).
This essay will discuss this doubling of prison population in the last 17 years. It will examine the suggested reasons for this rise, a statistical breakdown of the structure of the inmate population, the financial and social effects also the implications on the effectiveness of prison as a useful means of crime control. According to the ‘Prison Reform Trust’ one of the main reasons for the growth (as apposed to more crime which has remained stable or even fallen in the same …show more content…
In a search for empty places inmates are often moved to different prisons which can be anywhere in the country. In 2001, 37,000 prisoners were being held over 50 miles away from home, for 5,000 of these the distance was more than 150 miles (Howard League for Penal Reform).
This relocation often leads to a displacement, not only physically, but also emotionally from society, friends and family and can directly bring about a breakdown of relationship, marriage, child bonding and more. All of the above could make re-integration into society much more difficult to achieve, thus leading to further exclusion for the offender. This is one marked effect of overcrowding in the British Prison …show more content…
Although there are opportunities available to prisoners to spend part of their day unlocked these are restricted by sheer volume of numbers. A prisoner is entitled to one hour exercise per day although this is subject to the Governors discretion and can be cancelled by factors such as staff shortage, weather conditions or security “Security referrers to the obligation of the prison service to prevent inmates escaping. Control is the obligation of the prison service to prevent prisoners being disruptive” (Newburn.T. p.689) There are opportunities to work in jobs such as kitchens, laundry, cleaning or assisting officers in limited roles concerning day to day duties involved in running the prison, these may be in reception where new inmates are issued with prison clothes, blankets and cutlery. The prison library is often organised by trusted inmates. All of the above roles or jobs are given to inmates serving substantial sentences because there would be little point training an inmate with only a short sentence. However these job opportunities in prison are very limited in number, an inmate can apply for work at the beginning of his/her sentence but never be offered any position because of the sheer number of applicants (also the length of his/her