AC3.4 (prisons, probation service, charities & pressure groups)

how have staff cuts lead to prisons being in crisis & failing to achieve social control over inmates

• between 2010 & 2018 the number of prison officers fell by 15% as a result of budget cuts

• by 2018 more experienced officer were more likely to leave

• 2018 - 1/3 of officers had less than 2 years experience

how has overcrowding lead to prisons being in crisis & failing to achieve social control over inmates

prison pop - 1993, 43,000 → 2021, 80,000

• 2018 - 58% of prisons were overcrowded → discontent & rule breaking by inmates

how does not addressing rehabilitation needs lead to prisons being in crisis & failing to achieve social control over inmates

• increased numbers of prisoners, staff shortages, & budget cuts mean that prisons are unable to deal with the causes of prisoners offending (drug & alcohol dependency, mental health)

• many are serving short sentences - not enough time to address their needs

how does a drugs epidemic lead to prisons being in crisis & failing to achieve social control over inmates

• between 2013 & 2018, 117 deaths in prison were linked to new psychoactive substances

• the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 outlawed their possession in prison

• the availability of drugs undermines prison discipline & control by reducing inmates participation in rehabilitation activities, creates debt among inmates, & increases levels of deviance

how does security lead to prisons being in crisis & failing to achieve social control over inmates

• almost no escapes from prisons - 2 a year since 2010

• numerous breaches of security with drugs, sim cards being smuggled into prison using drones

how does safety lead to prisons being in crisis & failing to achieve social control over inmates

incidents of assaults, self-harm, & suicide have risen - 2020 there were:

• 76 suicides

• 65,000 incidents of self-harm

• 32,000 assault incidents

• 5 homicides

how do riots & disorder lead to prisons being in crisis & failing to achieve social control over inmates

have increased

• HMP Birmingham 2016 - the worst riot in a UK prison in 25 years

• 2018 - a series of disorder at several prisons, e.g. Bedford - Chief Inspector of prisons warned of a complete breakdown in order to& discipline

why did the gov end the contracts of 21 community rehabilitation companies (CRC) early

2018 probation service inspection report:

• offenders housing needs were met less often - 54%, compared to 70% of NPS-supervised cases

• offenders were often supervised by telephone only

• provided inadequate protection for victims & their children when domestic abusers were returned to the community

• probation officers in the CRC were carrying higher caseloads than those in the public sector

is the NPS effective in rehabilitation goals

has about half the reoffending compared with prisons

limitations of the NPS

• national shortage of probation officers

• high work loads have → professional standards being compromised

• probation premises are dated & in some cases, not secure

• no national strategy to provide enough local specialist services

• shortage of places on specialist programmes to address the causes of offending

what are charities & pressure groups

• charities - provide services to specific groups of people

• pressure groups - campaign for changes to gov polices to benefit those who’s interests they serve

why are charities & pressure groups better placed to reduce re/offending than gov agencies

• have a strong commitment to one particular group / issue & specialist knowledge of peoples needs

• strongly motivated to help & may therefore go the extra mile in a way that gov/agencies may not do

how do pressure group NARCO help to achieve social control

provides services for ex-offenders & those in danger of offending - e.g. provides accommodation for those released from prison & supports them to find long-term accommodation

homelessness is a major driver of reoffending & tackling this helps achieve social control

what does the pressure group ‘Women in Prison’ campaign for & what support do they provide

reduce the numbers of women in prison

• freephone helpline to provide support & guidance

• referring women to other specialist agencies

• CARE programme for women in prison for violent offending who have a history of mental heath problems, self-harm, suicide attention, substance misuse

limitations of pressure groups & charities

• voluntary - only exist where people are concerned about a particular issue/group - e.g. people may be concerned enough about victims to make charities to support them, but less concerned about offenders to set up organisations to help them rehabilitate

• if a group of victims are portrayed sympathetically by the media, this may increase support for charities that work with the group

• easier to gain funds for some causes than others that might be more deserving - iiiv funds charities based on what fits them politically