Advertisement New WaysNew Ways Would you like to advertise on ICN? Click to learn more.

CSAN: Ministry of Justice’s plans 'will do little to end cycle of re-offending'


In an open letter to The Tablet, the international Catholic weekly newspaper, CSAN’s Chief Executive, Helen O’Brien and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales’ Prison Adviser, Mgr Malachy Keegan have expressed their strong concern that the Ministry of Justice’s plans to ‘toughen-up’ prison regimes will “do little to end the cycle of re-offending” in the UK’s penal system.

Under proposed changes to the Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) System, the government is proposing the introduction of a new two-week entry level prison uniform for male prisoners and mobility between different levels of ‘privileges’ to be based on engagement in work or education rather than on compliance with the prison regime.

In their joint letter to The Tablet, Mgr Malachy Keegan and Helen O’Brien said: “The newly announced Ministry of Justice plans to ‘toughen-up’ prison regimes are not rooted in the reality of the UK’s penal system and will do little to end the cycle of re-offending.”

“We know that there is a significant under provision of employment or educational opportunities in prisons, and yet access to ‘privileges’ such as televisions, gym facilities and family visits will become dependent upon prisoner participation in work or lessons.”
“Additional proposals to make newly arrived prisoners wear uniforms and to reduce their personal cash allowance will mark out vulnerable people, whilst restricting opportunities to phone home during their often turbulent first weeks in detention.”

“Deprivation of liberty by being sent to prison, is punishment in itself. In 2000, Blessed Pope John Paul II warned us that “not to promote the interests of prisoners would be to make imprisonment a mere act of vengeance on the part of society. We urge the Government most strongly to heed this message and focus its efforts on improving on the availability of training, teaching and meaningful work for all prisoners, rather than introducing punitive measures that will do little to further reform."

Adverts

Ooberfuse

We offer publicity space for Catholic groups/organisations. See our advertising page if you would like more information.

We Need Your Support

ICN aims to provide speedy and accurate news coverage of all subjects of interest to Catholics and the wider Christian community. As our audience increases - so do our costs. We need your help to continue this work.

You can support our journalism by advertising with us or donating to ICN.

Mobile Menu Toggle Icon