Northampton project supporting prison leavers welcome reforms
Darryn Frost of Own Merit welcomes 'adult conversations' about what needs to change in our prison system following review.
A Northamptonshire man who runs a project helping house prison leavers says he welcomes some of the new prison reforms.
Fewer criminals will be put behind bars and more will serve sentences in the community under plans to end overcrowding in jails, in a review announced yesterday.
Violent criminals and sexual offenders could be released from prison earlier, while judges could be given more flexibility to impose punishments such as football or driving bans.
Short sentences of less than 12 months would also be scrapped, apart from exceptional circumstances such as domestic abuse cases.
An independent sentencing review led by former justice secretary David Gauke recommended the reforms to overhaul the prisons system and make sure there is space to jail the most dangerous offenders after a string of emergency measures to deal with the capacity crisis.
Five key proposals put forward by Mr Gauke are expected to cut the prison population by around 9,800.
Latest figures show the prison population in England and Wales is 88,103, just 418 below the record of 88,521, which was reached on September 6 last year, just before the Government began freeing thousands of prisoners early to ease overcrowding.
"Change is needed"
Darryn Frost is a co-found of Own Merit, set up in Northampton in 2021, with a mission to address the prison-leaver homelessness crisis safely and cost-effectively.
He was brought together with his co-founder Steve Gallant by the tragic events of Fishmonger's Hall in 2019 and they have 30 years experience in the justice system.
Darryn welcomes a fresh approach:
"We already incarcerate far more people than anyone else in West Europe, we put a lot of people in prison who shouldn't be in prison in the first place, but that's because we lack reliable alternatives."
Darren says prison should be about removing dangerous people from our streets. He feels one example of those who shouldn't be in prison is white collar criminals, and feels a better punishment could be higher taxes or community service involving teaching others about financial management.
He also feels the Sentencing Review allows the government and leaders to have brave and adult conversations about what is and isn't working in the justice system:
"For far too long criminal justice as been the easy political football, of just saying tougher on crime, tougher on criminals, but we've seen where that leads and its overcrowding prisons and a failing system which doesn't actually serve the country."
Sexual Crimes
The independent sentencing review has also suggested exploring chemical castration for sex offenders, saying it is "worthwhile" as a way to reduce reoffending.
It follows a current project being piloted in south-west England.
Chemical suppression has been used in Germany and Denmark on a voluntary basis, and in Poland as mandatory for some offenders.
Darryn says this could be of benefit to those who volunteer due to unwanted sexual urges:
"If there are people who are wanting to change their behaviour, and the want that, it could be useful."
He says mandating it is a different matter, and chemical castration isn't permanent and can lead to things like depression.
He says the prison system isn't working and new ideas are needed:
"I'm quite excited that the government is looking at alternatives, and not just putting people in prison for longer and longer. Obviously is needs to be done carefully but I am pleased they are looking at alternatives."