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| Jail system in 'serious crisis' | Jail system in 'serious crisis' |
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| The jail system is in "serious crisis" with overcrowding affecting rehabilitation of offenders, the chief inspector of prisons has warned. | The jail system is in "serious crisis" with overcrowding affecting rehabilitation of offenders, the chief inspector of prisons has warned. |
| Anne Owers said some jails have become "riskier places to manage" because of the overcrowding problem. | Anne Owers said some jails have become "riskier places to manage" because of the overcrowding problem. |
| Many male prisoners had mental health issues that would be better addressed in secure hospitals, Ms Owers said. | Many male prisoners had mental health issues that would be better addressed in secure hospitals, Ms Owers said. |
| A Home Office spokesman said it shared her concerns on "a number of issues" and was "addressing the problems". | A Home Office spokesman said it shared her concerns on "a number of issues" and was "addressing the problems". |
| There are nearly 80,000 prisoners in England and Wales, with some inmates held in police stations and court cells to ease overcrowding. | There are nearly 80,000 prisoners in England and Wales, with some inmates held in police stations and court cells to ease overcrowding. |
| Tackling behaviour | Tackling behaviour |
| Speaking at the launch of her report, Ms Owers said the crisis was such that prisons had become "like a funnel where liquid is being poured into the top with no tap to release it at the bottom". | Speaking at the launch of her report, Ms Owers said the crisis was such that prisons had become "like a funnel where liquid is being poured into the top with no tap to release it at the bottom". |
| She was particularly critical of the management of the growing number of prisoners serving indeterminate sentences - those with no set release date - saying she had warned of failures in previous years. | She was particularly critical of the management of the growing number of prisoners serving indeterminate sentences - those with no set release date - saying she had warned of failures in previous years. |
| It is normally considered good practice to build an ark before a flood not during it Anne Owers Can crisis be solved? href="/1/hi/uk/6312863.stm">Why is re-offending up? | |
| Failure to deal with their rehabilitation was a contributory factor in the current crisis, she added. | Failure to deal with their rehabilitation was a contributory factor in the current crisis, she added. |
| She warned there was no easy way out of the current overcrowding crisis. | She warned there was no easy way out of the current overcrowding crisis. |
| And she questioned plans to erect new quick-build units on existing sites, saying they would be filled as fast as they were put up. | And she questioned plans to erect new quick-build units on existing sites, saying they would be filled as fast as they were put up. |
| Long-term planning from the Home Office "should have happened some time ago", she added. | Long-term planning from the Home Office "should have happened some time ago", she added. |
| "It is normally considered good practice to build an ark before a flood not during it," she said. | "It is normally considered good practice to build an ark before a flood not during it," she said. |
| Foreign nationals | Foreign nationals |
| Ms Owers said ministers had also failed to act on a number of her previous warnings. | Ms Owers said ministers had also failed to act on a number of her previous warnings. |
| Annual report [687kb] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | Annual report [687kb] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| These included the number of foreign national prisoners - currently about 1,300 - being held beyond their sentence while they await deportation. | These included the number of foreign national prisoners - currently about 1,300 - being held beyond their sentence while they await deportation. |
| Warnings that too many under-18s and women - about 3,000 and 4,000 respectively - had been imprisoned rather than given community sentences, has also been disregarded, she added. | Warnings that too many under-18s and women - about 3,000 and 4,000 respectively - had been imprisoned rather than given community sentences, has also been disregarded, she added. |
| In her report, Ms Owers praised the work done to achieve a reduction in self-inflicted deaths. | In her report, Ms Owers praised the work done to achieve a reduction in self-inflicted deaths. |
| Paul Cavadino, chief executive of crime reduction charity Nacro, said the overcrowding crisis was a result of an "addiction to prison sentences". | Paul Cavadino, chief executive of crime reduction charity Nacro, said the overcrowding crisis was a result of an "addiction to prison sentences". |
| He said indeterminate sentences were being used excessively and called for a law change to ensure they were only used when "genuinely necessary". | He said indeterminate sentences were being used excessively and called for a law change to ensure they were only used when "genuinely necessary". |
| Projecting the prison population is not an exact science Home Office | Projecting the prison population is not an exact science Home Office |
| Director General of the Prison Service, Phil Wheatley said he welcomed the "balanced and forthright" report. | Director General of the Prison Service, Phil Wheatley said he welcomed the "balanced and forthright" report. |
| "Anne Owers recognises the current issues we are dealing with and acknowledges that despite those issues we continue to provide a safe and positive regime for the prisoners in our care. | "Anne Owers recognises the current issues we are dealing with and acknowledges that despite those issues we continue to provide a safe and positive regime for the prisoners in our care. |
| "I share her concerns over foreign national and young adult prisoners and we are working to address the issues she raises about these and other areas of contention," he said. | "I share her concerns over foreign national and young adult prisoners and we are working to address the issues she raises about these and other areas of contention," he said. |
| Under fire | Under fire |
| A Home Office spokesman added the department had delivered 20,000 more prison places since 1997 with plans put in place last year for another 8,000. | A Home Office spokesman added the department had delivered 20,000 more prison places since 1997 with plans put in place last year for another 8,000. |
| "But projecting the prison population is not an exact science," he added. | "But projecting the prison population is not an exact science," he added. |
| "Independent sentencing guidelines laid down that tougher post-release supervision of offenders should be balanced by a 15% reduction in sentence length." | "Independent sentencing guidelines laid down that tougher post-release supervision of offenders should be balanced by a 15% reduction in sentence length." |
| This had not materialised, the spokesman added. | This had not materialised, the spokesman added. |
| Last week, Home Secretary John Reid came under fire over a letter he wrote to judges and magistrates, asking them to imprison only the most dangerous of offenders. | Last week, Home Secretary John Reid came under fire over a letter he wrote to judges and magistrates, asking them to imprison only the most dangerous of offenders. |
| He denied encouraging softer sentences for criminals to ease prison overcrowding, saying he was merely re-stating existing guidelines. | He denied encouraging softer sentences for criminals to ease prison overcrowding, saying he was merely re-stating existing guidelines. |