![Policy Briefing](/sites/default/files/emails/Policy-Briefing_4.png)
In this month's edition...
Clinks chairs and co-ordinates the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3), a formal advisory group to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). The RR3 has set up a special interest group on Covid-19 to formally channel policy suggestions to the government.
In recent weeks the RR3 Covid-19 SIG has submitted two evidence papers to the MoJ and HMPPS: focussed on the long-term recovery of voluntary sector services in the criminal justice system (CJS); and exploring the financial sustainability of the voluntary sector working in the CJS. Both papers will be published in due course. The SIG has also provided feedback on Exceptional Delivery Models - the pieces of HMPPS operational guidance related to the recovery of services in prisons. Anne Fox, Chair of the RR3 and Chief Executive of Clinks also is attending meetings of the HMPPS Recovery Independent Advisory Group.
Clinks has been supporting the voluntary sector following the launch of the Dynamic Framework for the reformed probation model. We have held a number of information events to support organisations looking to apply be on the Dynamic Framework.
Clinks continues to work on a number of wider areas of policy work:
- Jess Mullen gave evidence to the Justice Committee’s inquiry into the youth justice system, in which she called for the government to better engage black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME)-led organisations working in the youth custodial estate
- We submitted a response to the Lords Public Services Committee inquiry on coronavirus, in which we highlighted the historic underfunding of voluntary sector contracts which has undermined the voluntary sector’s ability to weather the Covid-19 crisis
- We are submitting a further response to the Women and Equalities Committee inquiry into the unequal impact of coronavirus, which has set up a sub-inquiry specifically focussing on the impact on BAME people during the pandemic
- We are writing to Dame Louise Casey CBE, head of the government’s Covid-19 rough sleeping taskforce, asking her to work with the voluntary sector in criminal justice to explore specific issues related to access to accommodation for prison leavers.
The voluntary sector’s role in probation from June 2021 The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced that, from June 2021, accredited programmes and unpaid work will be delivered by the National Probation Service. At the same time, the MoJ launched the Dynamic Framework, the mechanism through which rehabilitation and resettlement services which will be commissioned in the new model. Clinks welcomes the announcement on the basis that a simplified system that reduces complexity for people, and the need for contract management and monitoring, will mean a stronger focus on meeting people’s needs. Clinks has held a number of events to support organisations looking to apply be on the Dynamic Framework and continues to work with HMPPS to ensure a sustainable role for the voluntary sector in the new probation model.
£2.5m funding for specialist women’s services The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is inviting applications from specialist women’s organisations for one-off grants for core costs. The grants are available to specialist voluntary organisations providing gender-specific services for women across England and Wales. £2.5 million in total will be distributed in 12 regional lots, aligned with the probation regions. Grants between £30,000 and £60,000 are available, with payment made before 31st March 2021. Clinks recently attended a meeting of the MoJ’s Advisory Board for Female Offenders, where this programme was discussed. The focus of this funding on covering costs involved in running an organisation is highly welcome, as grants for core-costs can be a vital source of sustainability for voluntary organisations and their ability to thrive.
Funding for prisons The government has committed over £140 million to install temporary prison cells, repair and refurbish prisons and improve IT in prisons. One thousand temporary cells will be installed to increase capacity and allow Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) to close wings at other prisons for refurbishment. Part of the funding for IT will go towards technology to support digital literacy and education. Funding used to improve conditions in prison and support rehabilitation is welcome, but this funding is dwindled by the huge amounts committed to building costly new prisons to accommodate an increasing prison population. Clinks thinks that the government should reduce the prison population, and that this money would be much better spent on early intervention, prevention, diversion and alternatives to custody.
Government launches second phase of independent review into drug misuse The government has launched the second part of the independent review led by Professor Dame Carol Black into the misuse of illegal drugs in England. The first part of the review explored the scale of challenges around drug supply and demand, and this second phase will make a series of policy recommendations to the government including around funding, and how services are commissioned. The terms of reference for the review and call for evidence have also been published. The call for evidence will close on Thursday 6th August, initial recommendations are expected to be made in September and the final report is expected to be published by the end of 2020.
Clinks publications
Clinks response: the future of mental health care in prison Clinks responded to the Centre for Mental Health’s call for evidence to inform a review of the future of mental health care in prison. The response outlines how far mental health support is currently meeting need in the context of Covid-19. It gives examples of good practice, details how needs are likely to change in the future, and outlines areas for development and improvement. A key recommendation is for voluntary organisations delivering mental health services to people in prison to be seen as strategic partners that prisons engage with, to ensure that they are able to support service users. In order for this to realised, the sustainability of these organisations needs to be supported beyond and during Covid-19.
Flexible responses during the Coronavirus crisis: Rapid evidence gathering The Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) coalition has published a paper examining how homelessness, substance misuse, mental health and criminal justice services have provided more flexible services to people facing multiple disadvantage during Covid-19. The rapid evidence research, undertaken by Cordis Bright over a two week period, found public services working more flexibly in some cases, including examples of improved access to accommodation for people released from prison and increased partnership working between police and other agencies. The research argues that local areas and national government need to conduct cross-sector leadership to ensure positive changes can be maintained. MEAM is a coalition of Clinks, Homeless Link, Mind and associate member Collective Voice.
Letter to Dr Jo Farrar - Race and ethnicity; a critical moment Voluntary organisations led by black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people have set out five areas for action that Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) must take in order to address the challenges faced by BAME-led organisations in the criminal justice system. Recommendations include that HMPPS ensure the financial sustainability of BAME voluntary organisations and embed considerations of disproportionality in the planning of the recovery of services in prison and probation. The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) - a formal advisory group to the government chaired by Clinks - has written to Dr Jo Farrar, CEO of HMPPS to express their full support to the paper and ask for effective action in response to the issues highlighted.
Prisons
Oral evidence session: Improving the prison estate The Public Accounts Committee held an oral evidence session to inform its inquiry into improving the prison estate. Dr Jo Farrar, CEO, Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS); Sir Richard Heaton, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice (MoJ); and Clive Beard, Deputy Director, HMPPS all gave evidence. The committee asked questions about the prison building programme and maintenance issues across the estate. Sir Richard Heaton said that the current backlog in prison maintenance stems from under-investment in prison maintenance from 2010-2017, for which the government are now "paying the consequences". Heaton also said that the current prison building programme is not new for old, and due to the projected prison population increase, the government will have to keep Victorian prisons open.
Category C prisons short scrutiny visits HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) has published a report following recent inspections of three category C men’s prisons: HMP Maidstone, HMP Onley and HMP/YOI Brinsford. Inspectors reported that people have been living for 12 weeks with minimal time out of their cells, and were concerned about the impact of this prolonged severe regime restrictions on the welfare of people in prison. The suspension of visits continues to negatively affect many, and at the time of inspection, Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) had still not provided video calling at the three sites to mitigate this. Inspectors also found that attempts to provide in-cell education had not proven effective.
Open prisons short scrutiny visits HM Inspector of Prisons (HMIP) has published a report following recent inspections of three open prisons: HMP/YOI Thorn Cross, HMP Ford and HMP Sudbury. Inspectors praised the work by prison management to limit the spread of Covid-19, but also warned that frustration is growing amongst people in prison over the loss of opportunities they previously had. For example, release on temporary licence (ROTL) opportunities have largely been suspended, with some people at risk of losing their job in the community. Almost all education had stopped and workshops were closed, which left people with little to do during the day. Social visits and ROTL aimed at promoting family ties had also been suspended.
Accommodation
Accommodation and support for adult offenders in the community and on release from prison in England HM Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP) has published a thematic inspection on accommodation, in which it joins Clinks’ call for the government to create a national cross-departmental strategy to address the accommodation needs of people in the criminal justice system. The report is based on visits to probation services, service user engagement, scrutiny of individual cases and a call for evidence. It finds that a lack of accommodation for people in the criminal justice system, underfunding of services and poor cross-agency working has led to people leaving prison homeless, and increasing the likelihood of reoffending. Clinks will work with HMIP and the government to further push for a national strategy and ensure voluntary sector involvement.
Alternatives to custody
Deflect and divert: a common sense approach to dealing with low level crime Transform Justice has published a short briefing on the evidence for diversion and out of court approaches. Evidence shows diverting certain people away from the criminal justice system at an early stage can be cost-effective, is popular with the public, helps provide a swift resolution to victims, and can help reduce reoffending. During Covid-19, out of court resolutions can also help reduce the spread of the virus in courts and custody. Transform Justice is a charity that provides research and evidence to show how the criminal justice system works and how it could be improved. This report is part of a three-year programme exploring the use of diversion and out of court approaches.
Covid-19 response grants - the first grants have been awarded Applications remain open for Clinks' Covid-19 response grant programme, with funding distributed on behalf of Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and the Ministry of Justice, to support voluntary organisations working in criminal justice with an annual income under £500,000. In this blog, Nichole McIntosh gives details on the grant programme, and the progress made, including information on the first organisations to receive a grant. Alongside this, Clinks continues to advocate for further financial support for voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system.
Locked Down, Locked Out Of Education Francesca Cooney, Head of Policy at the Prisoners’ Education Trust, has written a blog to highlight how children in prison are still missing out on their education in the context of the Covid-19 lockdown. Withdrawing education provision can have a significant impact on children’s wellbeing, many of whom have been locked up for significant periods in their cells each day. While there have been some efforts to support in-cell learning, this is a poor substitute for children who might need personal support and interaction to learn. Francesca calls on the Youth Custody Service to take urgent action to address this, including providing classes for smaller numbers, while maintaining appropriate safety measures - something which has been implemented at HMP Parc and proven feasible.
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Written monthly by...
Clinks' policy officers, Will Downs and Lauren Nickolls
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