NCJ Number
131803
Date Published
1991
Length
17 pages
Annotation
The Maidstone prison in England is described in terms of its facilities, programs, staff, inmate attitudes, and needs for improvement. Recent trends in British sentencing and correctional policies are also summarized.
Abstract
The increasing use of incarcerative sentences, the trend toward longer prison sentences and growing numbers of individuals detained before trial have combined to increase the British prison population sharply in recent years. However, corrections resources have not increased proportionately, resulting in overcrowding, shortages of programs, and inadequate living conditions. The Maidstone prison consists of more than 50 buildings, the first of which was constructed in 1819. Inmates are all serving sentences of more than 4 years. Limited work opportunities, limited resources for education and vocational training, and crowding contribute to inmate and staff unrest, although inmates are aware that they have more opportunities at this training prison than are inmates in local prisons. Note and 3 references