the role of prisons (3.1)

What are prison’s philosophy

HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is the government agency responsible for the UK’s prisons. It describes its purpose as ‘preventing victims by changing the lives of offenders’

Aims and objectives

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What must it protect

Aim to protect the public from harm

What does it help

Aims to help people who have have convicted of offences to rehabilitate so they can contribute positively to society

What do they do with prisoners

aims to hold prisoners securely and implement the sentences and order of the courts

Funding

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How are prisons paid

Prisons are paid by the government out of general taxation.

What was the total budget in 2018

In 2018, the total budget for prisons was approximately £3 billion- 16% lower than 2010

What did this result in

As a result, many more experienced officers left the service: by 2020, almost a third of staff had less than three years’ experience.

What is the average cost of keeping a prisoner

The average cost of keeping a prisoner in public sector prisons in 2019 was £41,136 or £42,591 in private prisons

Working practices

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How many prisoners were held in how many prisons in 2019

In 2019, there were a total of 121 prisons, holding around 80,000 prisoners at any one time

How many were public sector prisons and how many private prisons were there

106 were public sector prisons, run by the government and 15 were private prisons, run by three private companies

What were the 3 private companies

Sodexo, G45 and Secro

What happens to G45 in 2019

G45 was stripped of its contract for HMP Birmingham, which was returned permanently to the public sector following failings by G45, including Britain’s worst prison riot in 25 years, in 2016

Types of criminality and offender

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What does the prison service deal with

The prison service deals with higher risk offenders who are deemed unsuitable to serve their sentence in the community.

How does the range of seriousness vary

The range of seriousness of offence varies greatly, from murder down to theft

National and local reach

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How is prison service organised

The prison service is nationally organised, with prisons situated throughout the UK.

What happenes when first sentenced

When sentenced to prison, an offender is first placed in a local prison and given a security classification based on a risk assessment. They may then be moved to a more appropriate prison elsewhere

What happens with attempted escapes

Prisoners who have made escape attempts are placed on an ‘escape list’ and must be handcuffed and wear bright yellow clothing when being moved. They must change cells frequently and have their clothes and some of their personal property removed form their cell before being locked in for the night

Prison activities and routines

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How are prisons criticised

Although the prison service aims to rehabilitate prisoners, prisons have been criticised for their lack of opportunities for education, training and work experience

Incentives and earned privileges

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What are incentives and earned privileges

Incentives and earned privileges are rewards that prisoners can earn by keeping to the rules.

What are the 3 levels of incentives and earned privileges

Basic, standard and enhanced

What level is the offender put on when entering prison

On entering prison, the prisoner is put on standard level, which might mean they are allowed to spend more the money they earn

How is the basic level achieved

Misbehaviour will lead to the prisoner being reduced to basic level, where they can only have the minimum that the law says they must have, such as a limited number of letters or visits.

How is the enhanced level achieved

Good behaviour will lead to being moved to the enhanced level, with additional privileges, such as a TV in their cell. Different prisons have different rules about what privileges can be earned