In this month's edition...
Covid-19
Our priority over the past month has been supporting and representing the voluntary sector working in criminal justice in their response to Covid-19. For full information on Clinks' work in response to Covid-19 see our dedicated page here. Our policy work has included the following:
- The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) special interest group (SIG) on the impact of Covid-19 on voluntary organisations and the service users they support continues to meet once a week. The group sends recommendations to senior officials in the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) after each meeting. The RR3 is a formal advisory group to the government coordinated and chaired by Clinks.
- We continue to conduct a bi-weekly survey of voluntary organisations working in criminal justice to track the impact of the pandemic on organisations’ staff, volunteers, service delivery and finances. Three surveys have been conducted so far, each with over 100 responses. See our blog page for summaries of the findings. Take our latest survey here.
- We have engaged with a number of select committees, who have conducted inquiries specifically focused on Covid-19 to provide valuable scrutiny to the government on the impact of Covid-19 across a range of areas.
- We submitted written evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (DCMS) inquiry into the impact of COVID-19 on the charity sector.
- We submitted written evidence to the Women and Equalities Committee inquiry into the impact of Covid-19 on people with protected characteristics.
- Each week we also submit evidence to the Justice Committee on the continued impact of Covid-19 on the voluntary sector working in criminal justice.
- We are also responding to another DCMS inquiry and an inquiry from the Health and Social Care select committee. We will publish all our responses to committees soon.
Our wider policy work
Clinks attended a meeting held by Lucy Frazer QC MP, Minister of State for Prisons and Probation with a number of voluntary organisations from the specialist women’s sector. The minister provided details on the government’s latest plans in implementing the Female Offender Strategy, including for a new residential women’s centre to be established in Wales and £2.5m grant funding to be distributed to the women’s sector. We are pleased core funding is being considered through this grant programme, and will follow up from the meeting to understand how the funds will be distributed and the model of residential centre planned.
Clinks also attended a meeting of the MoJ’s Advisory Board for Female Offenders (ABFO) to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on women in the criminal justice system, and attended a strategy group meeting with family organisations and officials from HMPPS, to discuss the ongoing implementation of the Farmer Review for women.
The RR3 has set up a SIG on probation, to provide a formal avenue to channel voluntary sector advice to HMPPS, ahead of the planned implementation of a reformed probation model. The first meeting of the SIG brought together voluntary sector leaders with officials to discuss the latest plans and timelines for the Dynamic Framework. We will publish an update on these timelines and a summary note of actions from the group shortly.
Tackling racial disparity in the criminal justice system The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has made a correction to their update on work to reduce race disparity in the criminal justice system. Clinks sits alongside Zahid Mubarak Trust, Black Training and Enterprise Group, the Traveller Movement, Prison Reform Trust and Partners of Prisoners on the External Advice and Scrutiny Panel (EASP) to support the implementation of the Lammy Review. When first published, Tackling Race Disparity referenced engagement between HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and the EASP on the disproportionality considerations for the rollout of PAVA incapacitant spray, but the report failed to highlight the EASP’s expressed concern of the likelihood of disproportionate outcomes in use of PAVA. We are pleased that HMPPS has updated the publication to reflect our concerns.
COVID-19 population management strategy for prisons An interim assessment of the government’s strategy to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in prison has been published. There have not been ‘explosive outbreaks’ of Covid-19 in prisons and this has been achieved largely through the implementation of a highly restricted regime and compartmentalisation, including the establishment of protective isolation and shielding units, and units for new entries into prison. The risk of large outbreaks remains, and it’s possible therefore that following this positive assessment of existing measures, the government will continue to implement restrictive prison regimes, rather than seek a large reduction in the prison population through the early release scheme. This has concerning implications for the wellbeing of people in prison, including their ability to access voluntary sector services.
Early release scheme guidance The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) have released guidance on the End of Custody Temporary Release scheme (ECTR) which was introduced as part of their response to Covid-19. The scheme enables risk-assessed prisoners, who are within two months of their release date, to be temporarily released from custody, as part of the national approach to managing public services during this challenging period. Implementation of this scheme has been slow, with very few numbers released so far through the scheme. The ambition to see a significant number of people released early through this scheme to ease overcrowding appears to have been curtailed, in favour of reducing receptions and increasing the number of spaces within the prison estate.
Compassionate release guidance In addition to the End of Custody Temporary Release (ECTR) scheme, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has released guidance on the use of compassionate release on temporary licence (ROTL) during Covid-19. Those who are not eligible for the ECTR scheme, but who may be particularly affected by the direct or indirect consequences of Covid-19 - because they are either pregnant, residing with their babies in custody, or defined as ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ - merit consideration for temporary release under a Special Purpose Licence. It is the duty of prisons to take active steps to identify individuals in the groups mentioned and invite them to apply for ROTL.
The Covid-19 crisis and charities The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee has published a report that sets out the challenges the voluntary sector is facing in the context of Covid-19. The committee recognises the highly diverse nature of the sector in terms of size, structure and services offered and the vital work the sector does which is needed now more than ever. The committee also recognise the huge challenges many organisations, particularly small and local charities, face in remaining sustainable and therefore recommends that the government quickly establish a comprehensive stabilisation fund to ensure charities, even those not directly working on tackling Covid-19, are not forced to fold. Clinks submitted written evidence to the committee and were pleased to see our evidence directly referenced in the report.
Ageing prison population inquiry The Justice Committee held an oral evidence session on the ageing prison population and Covid-19, hearing evidence from experts across academia, the voluntary sector and regulatory bodies. Paul Grainge, RECOOP and Emily McCarron, Age UK detailed the healthcare needs of older people in prison and the need for the prison regime to be tailored to meet these needs. They both support the establishment of a national strategy for older people in prison that is developed in partnership with the voluntary sector and people with lived experience. Clinks welcome the re-launch of the committee’s inquiry. We submitted written evidence, in partnership with RECOOP, to the inquiry last year before it was suspended due to the dissolution of parliament for the general election in December.
How government reforms and coronavirus will affect policing, courts and prisons The Institute for Government has published a report showing that across the UK, unprecedented court case backlogs will result from the delays to court hearings caused by Covid-19. In the event of a sixth-month lockdown, waiting times to hear cases could increase by over 70% and defendants and victims could wait more than six months for trials in the crown court. Meanwhile, the government’s existing pledge to hire more than 20,000 police officers will place further demand on court services, and could lead to a prison population of over 95,000 by 2023/4, the highest ever level. The report argues that the impacts of court delays and increased police officers will require a substantial increase in government spending.
Hearing from young adults in the criminal justice system Leaders Unlocked has published a report into the experiences of young adults in the criminal justice system (CJS). The report was co-produced with 20 young adults with first-hand experience of the CJS, and findings were based on peer-led engagement with 500 young adults. The report covers: racial disproportionality, sentencing young adults, the care system, mental health, employment and life after prison. Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) participants shared how they are confronted with racism throughout the justice system - from being targeted by police, stereotyped by sentencers and unfairly treated by prison and probation staff. Recommendations include for the prison service to build on partnerships with voluntary organisations as they are well placed to build trust with BAME young adults.
Time to End the Silence Maslaha has published a report highlighting the discrimination and daily challenges that Muslim people face in prison. The importance of faith for an individual’s mental health and sense of identity is a clear theme in the report. This has become even more urgent since prison regimes have been restricted due to Covid-19, which has in turn created additional barriers for people to observe their religion and cultural traditions during Ramadan. The report recommends that voluntary organisations review their understanding of Muslim service users and how accessible their services are to Muslims. The report was supported by Clinks Policy Officer Lauren Nickolls as part of Clinks’ commitment to working in partnership with and as an ally to BAME led organisations.
Experts by experience: the effects of isolation during COVID-19 pandemic In this blog, Sue Wheatcroft - an Expert by Experience at Revolving Doors Agency - reflects on how the experience of people living under lockdown in the community has been compared to ‘being in prison’. Sue argues that while imprisonment is immeasurably harder, people living under lockdown in the community will be dealing with feelings similar to those of imprisonment - such as boredom, loneliness, fear and anxiety. She expresses cautious hope that following this punishing experience of lockdown, people might hold greater capacity to empathise with those in prison whose lives are marked by these feelings every day, and change their attitude towards the use and purpose of imprisonment.
Leaving prison in a pandemic The Making Every Adult Matter coalition (MEAM) has published a blog reflecting on the challenges people leaving prison are facing at this time and how services have responded. Inside prison, restricted regimes cut people off from the outside world, impacting their ability to prepare for their release. When people are released, they are encountering an unrecognisable world where services aren’t operating as usual and there are a host of new societal rules to adhere to. The blog highlights the experiences of organisations working in local areas to respond and meet people’s needs at this difficult time. Clinks is a member of MEAM alongside Homeless Link and Mind, working to improve the way public services are provided for people experiencing multiple disadvantage.
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Written monthly by...
Clinks' policy officers, Will Downs and Lauren Nickolls
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