Oxfordshire charity call for more rehabilitation as second wave of prisoners released early from today
It's part of the government's scheme to ease overcrowding in jails across England and Wales.
Last updated 22nd Oct 2024
As more criminals are set to be released this week, an Oxfordshire charity say there should be more services to help rehabilitate those behind bars.
Marion Stevenson who's Chair of the Community Connections Project at HMP Bullingdon has been speaking to us as over 1,000 extra prisoners will be released from prison early this week as the Government continues to try to ease jail overcrowding.
The Community Connections Project work with inmates of the prison near Bicester, giving them support services and activities, which is thought to help prevent reoffending.
Marion tells us there are many factors involved but evidence shows that you can help people to not reoffend by helping them with their wellbeing and self-esteem:
"There's no one magic bullet to rehabilitation but what this project does supports people with new skills and opportunities and engaging with them."
Marion says their should be more initiatives for those in prison.
"Holding people in marginalised positions is not likely to reduce reoffending. I think it's quite the reverse. I think the more you can do to give them a sense of wellbeing and hope, the better."
It's the second mass release of prisoners, after around 1,700 prisoners from jails across England and Wales on the 10th of September
Small numbers of eligible prisoners have been leaving jails since the Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood changed the percentage of a sentence someone must serve from 50% to 40% . She described jails at the time of nearing the "point of collapse".
The policy is expected to be reviewed within 18 months.
'Risky'
The prisons watchdog disagreed with the move, saying it was "inevitable" some would go on to reoffend, and the plan "risky".
The prison population of England and Wales hit a record high of 88,521 on September 6 this year, just days ahead of the first wave of releases.
A week later, on September 13, it had fallen sharply to 86,333 - a drop of 2,188 - but the figure has since risen and stood at 87,028 on October 18.
'No choice'
Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer has defended freeing criminals early, and blamed previous government inaction for forcing him into the move.
He said he had no choice but to cut the amount of time prisoners would serve amid urgent efforts to tackle the jail overcrowding crisis.
The Government said the policy does not apply to those convicted of sex crimes and terrorism. They have also tried to ensure that domestic abusers do not get freed, however not everyone is excluded due to the nature of their offense, and the time already served.
Those convicted of manslaughter will be excluded if they have been sentenced to more than four years.
Prisoners who may be homeless on release will be placed in taxpayer-funded budget hotels if there is not enough space in bail hostels and other community accommodation typically used for offenders.