NCJ Number
113222
Date Published
1986
Length
13 pages
Annotation
The Home Office has developed a long-term strategy for penal reform in England and Wales designed to achieve three major objectives.
Abstract
These include a need to relieve the prison system from the constant threat of a rise in prison population that exceeds the system's realistic and effective capacity, to alleviate overcrowding, poor conditions, and restrictive regimes in prisons, and to continue developmental work to meet future needs. To these ends, the Government has developed a building program to meet future needs and advocates the establishment of national sentencing guidelines. In addition, increasing attention is being given to the use of noncustodial alternatives, including probation, community service orders, victim reparation, and the use of fines matched to offender means. In addition to increased prison construction, attention also is being directed toward making more effective use of existing resources, including improved correctional staff management and deployment policies and better use of prison industries. Finally, policies towards prisoners need to be changed. Special units have been established for the control of problematic long-term inmates. Regimes need to be changed to reward positive inmate behaviors. Open prisons and youth custody centers are providing a means for reforms that encourage contact between inmates and their families and the outside world. These reforms include the abolishment of routine mail censorship, the availability of unrestricted telephone access, and extended home leaves.