Pact leads joint appeal against plans to remove family visits as punishment

Image: Pact

This week Pact (Prison Advice and Care Trust) brought together leaders from across the criminal justice sector to challenge Government plans that would allow family visits to be withdrawn as a disciplinary sanction for people in prison.

The joint letter to Catherine McKinnell MP, Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, was signed by leaders from organisations including the Prison Reform Trust, the Howard League for Penal Reform, St Giles, Nacro and many others.

Andy Keen-Downs CBE, Chief Executive, Pact writes: "Together we made a simple but important case: withdrawing family visits as punishment is not only morally wrong; it actively undermines the very outcomes the prison system is trying to deliver.

"We recognise that governors need effective ways to deal with violence, poor behaviour and serious breaches of prison rules. As it stands, HMPPS can restrict visits for prisoners and visitors caught smuggling contraband - but plans to expand the use of this punishment to other behaviours is a measure that could make prisons less safe, not more.

Decades of evidence shows that family contact supports mental wellbeing, encourages positive behaviour, contributes to safer prisons and reduces the likelihood of reoffending after release. The proposed change under the refreshed Prison Adjudications Framework risks weakening those protective relationships, particularly for people who are already vulnerable because of mental ill health, trauma, autism or learning disabilities.

"Family relationships are one of the strongest factors in helping people turn their lives around. They should be part of the solution, not part of the punishment."

LINK

Pact: www.prisonadvice.org.uk/