Clinks Policy Briefing | May 2026

This month, we launched our new Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) Special Interest Group (SIG) on the effective implementation of the Sentencing Act. We have published the Group’s Terms of Reference, here.  

The SIG will examine the impact of the Act on voluntary sector demand, with a focus on post-release resettlement and community support following community orders. Sessions will also explore the role of lived experience in resettlement and drug and alcohol support. 

If you are interested in contributing or attending our resettlement session, please contact our Specialist Policy Officer, Lisa Strelnikova (lisa.strelnikova@clinks.org) 

We have published our response the Justice Committee’s inquiry into children and young adults in the secure estate, highlighting key issues, including education, healthcare, family contact, safety, and transitions into the adult system.  

We published our response to a recent key findings paper by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons on ‘the experiences of remand prisoners’, arguing that people on remand cannot continue to be an afterthought in a system under strain. 

We have published Clinks’ Families Network’s Memorandum of Understanding, outlining a shared commitment to tackle stigma and support children and families affected by the criminal justice system, alongside a new blog, focusing on the importance of eliminating this stigma. 

Following our roundtable on the future of probation in Wales, we published an overview of the Welsh Government’s commitment to developing a Memorandum of Understanding for probation, as well as a briefing on voluntary sector priorities for the Welsh voluntary & community sector following the Senedd elections.   

Response to the Independent Review into Releases in Error 

On Wednesday 15 April, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) published the government response to Dame Lynne Owens’ Independent Review into Releases in Error. 

Digital overhaul of prison system to drive down release errors 

On Wednesday 15 April, the MoJ announced that they will be working to limit accidental releases as the Government moves to digitalise the prison system, alongside statements made in the House of Lords and the House of Commons on strengthening prison release. 

Releases in Error from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 

On Wednesday 15 April, the MoJ and HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) published an ad hoc publication presenting more recent information on releases in error in England and Wales. 

Renewed Women’s Health Strategy for England 

On Wednesday 15 April, the Department of Health and Social Care published the renewed Women’s Health Strategy, which sets out how the government will improve women’s health and healthcare over the next 10 years. 

HMPPS information management policy framework 

On Wednesday 15 April, the MoJ and HMPPS published ‘information management responsibilities of those who manage HMPPS information.’ 

Police Activity Survey (second edition) 

On Wednesday 15 April, the Home Office published the second edition of analysis from the Police Activity Survey, including how police spend their time across different activities, as well as new police response costs. 

RAAC hit court reopens in boost for London justice 

On Thursday 16 April, the MoJ and HM Courts and Tribunals Service announced that ‘victims across London will see justice delivered faster and fairer as Harrow Crown Court reopens in a major Government drive to cut court backlogs.’ 

A new and major magistrate recruitment drive 

On Thursday 16 April, the MoJ announced that thousands of new magistrates will be recruited and trained in under half the time it has previously taken due to ‘a new drive to bolster the ranks and deliver faster and fairer justice for victims.’ 

Prison leavers in substance misuse treatment: 4-week outcomes 

On Thursday 23 April, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and MoJ published an analysis of mortality and re-incarceration rates within 4 weeks of release for people leaving prison receiving substance misuse treatment in England. 

Electronic Monitoring Statistics Publication, March 2026 

On Thursday 23 April, the MoJ published official statistics covering the use and delivery of electronic devices, including location monitoring devices and alcohol monitoring devices, for March 2026 in England and Wales. 

Crime outcomes year to December 2025: data tables 

On Thursday 23 April, the Home Office published data on the outcomes assigned to offences recorded to December 2025 and the total number of outcomes recorded, by outcome type and offence type. 

Crime in England and Wales: year ending December 2025 

On Thursday 23 April, the Office for National Statistics published data on crime against households and people aged 16 years and over, using data from police recorded crime and the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW). 

‘Offender’ employment outcomes, update to March 2026 

On Friday 24 April, the MoJ published an annual release on employment status of people who have offended post release from custody and on community sentences, covering employment rates, and those who are unable to work. 

Domestic Abuse Act 2021: post-legislative scrutiny 

On Wednesday 29 April, the Home Office published an assessment of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 prepared for submission to the Home Affairs Committee and the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee. 

Restricted Patients Statistics, England and Wales 2025 

On Thursday 30 April, HMPPS published their annual publication providing statistics on restricted patients in England and Wales. 

Offender management statistics quarterly: October to December 2025 

On Thursday 30 April, the MoJ and HMPPS published detailed quarterly statistics on people in custody and quarterly statistics on prison receptions, prison releases, adjudications, licence recalls and those under probation supervision. 

Safety in custody: quarterly update to December 2025 

On Thursday 30 April, the MoJ and HMPPS published a quarterly update on the statistics on deaths, self-harm and assaults in prison custody in England and Wales. 

Proven reoffending statistics: January to March 2024 

On Thursday 30 April, the MoJ published revised data on the reoffending of those who were released from custody, received a non-custodial conviction, or a caution for the period between January and March 2024. 

‘Victims come first’ in new justice law 

On Thursday 30 April, the MoJ announced that Victims and Courts Bill has received Royal Assent to become law, outlining its key measures. 

Proven reoffending statistics: April to June 2024 

On Thursday 30 April, the MoJ published statistics on the reoffending of those who were released from custody, received a non-custodial conviction, or a caution for the period between April and June 2024. 

Justice data lab statistics: April 2026 

On Thursday 30 April, the MoJ published tailored reports assessing the impact of rehabilitation programmes on reoffending analysed within the previous quarter, and summary of results to date. 

Safety in the Children and Young People Secure Estate: Update to December 2025 

On Thursday 30 April, the MoJ, HMPPS and the Youth Custody Service published the latest edition of Safety in the Children and Young People Secure Estate statistics, covering assaults, self-harm and deaths in the Children and Young People Secure Estate in England and Wales. 

Standard Determinate Sentence (SDS40) release data: October 2024 to December 2025 

On Thursday 30 April, the MoJ and HMPPS published detailed statistics on those released under Standard Determinate Sentence 40 scheme (SDS40). 

Criminal Justice Statistics Quarterly: December 2025 

On Thursday 30 April, the MoJ published an overview of trends in the use of out of court disposals, defendants prosecuted, those convicted, remand and sentencing decisions in England and Wales. 

Statutory homelessness in England: October to December 2025 

On Thursday 30 April, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published accredited official statistics on statutory homelessness applications, duties, and outcomes for local authorities in England. 

Justice in Numbers Summary Tables and Pocketbook 

On Wednesday 6 May, the MoJ published the latest justice in numbers pocketbook. 

Exploring the feasibility of a survey measuring child abuse: May 2026 

On Wednesday 6 May, the Office for National Statistics published a progress update on the feasibility of a survey to measure the prevalence of child abuse. 

Outcome of unduly lenient sentence referrals 

On Thursday 7 May, the Attorney General’s Office published transparency data on the recent sentences they have examined under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme. 

Youth custody data

On Friday 8 May, HMPPS and the Youth Custody Service published monthly statistics on the population in custody of children and young people within the secure estate for March 2026.

New national collaboration space to strengthen youth justice policing

On Friday 8 May, the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales announced the launch of 'Basecamp: Diversion and Youth Justice Policing', which is a dedicated secure platform for real-time collaboration, problem-solving and shared learning across the sector.

Supporting prisoners with care experience policy framework

On Monday 11 May, HMPPS and the MoJ published guidance for prisons on identifying and supporting care‑experienced people in prison, improving staff awareness, access to services and links with local authorities.

• Tuesday 14 April, Money Resolution, Ways and Means Resolution, Programme Motion, and consideration of Lords’ amendments in the House of Commons
• Thursday 16 April, Consideration of Commons amendments and/or reasons in the House of Lords
• Monday 20 April, Consideration of Lords message in the House of Commons 
• Wednesday 22 April, Consideration of Commons amendments and/or reasons in the House of Lords and Consideration of Lords message in the House of Commons 
• Monday 27 April, Consideration of Commons amendments and/or reasons in the House of Lords
• Wednesday 29 April, the Bill received Royal Assent, becoming the Crime and Policing Act 2026 

Employment 

Working Chance have reissued ‘Hiring With Conviction’, a practical guide designed to help employers improve how they recruit people with convictions, and helps ensure this is done ethically, safely and effectively. 

Families 

Storybook Dads have published their 2025 impact report, outlining how they were able to help imprisoned parents maintain meaningful relationships with their children by producing 3,768 recorded stories across 108 prisons, reaching over 16,000 beneficiaries and significantly improving family bonds, wellbeing, and confidence. 

Prisons 

In a guest post for Russell Webster, Lauren Hayman shares her findings from a series of interviews with men in Welsh prisons. The post explores how people in prison are frequently touched, but rarely in ways that support wellbeing. Instead, touch becomes a site of tension, power, and deprivation. 

The Prison Reform Trust have published a new report containing the findings of a peer-led review by the Building Futures Network Group at HMP Frankland, drawing on the experiences of people with direct knowledge of the Category A review process. This report explores how the process is understood and experienced by those subject to it, highlighting the emotional and practical impacts of a system often perceived as opaque, inconsistent and difficult to navigate. 

Recall 

Revolving Doors have published a new blog arguing that the sharp rise in prison recalls is largely driven by people being set up to fail, through unstable housing, lack of support, and inflexible probation rules, rather than new offending. This blog calls for a more compassionate, coordinated approach focused on meeting people’s needs, especially housing and peer support, so supervision supports rehabilitation instead of perpetuating cycles of release and recall. 

Sentencing 

Revolving Doors published a new blog arguing that while tougher enforcement may be needed for organised retail crime, much repeat shoplifting is driven by underlying issues like addiction, homelessness, trauma, and poor mental health, which cannot be solved through prosecution alone. It calls for a dual approach that protects retail workers while investing in early support, treatment, and community-based solutions to address root causes and reduce reoffending. 

The Centre for Crime and Justice Studies published a new blog arguing that multi‑defendant homicide prosecutions in England and Wales have increased over the past two decades, with young people and racially minoritised groups disproportionately affected and often facing harsh sentences. It argues that reforms are needed to narrow the law, ensure proportionate sentencing for secondary parties, and improve transparency about each defendant’s individual role in a case. 

Women 

Agenda Alliance published a blog explaining how the Women’s Advisory Network (WAN), made up of women with lived experience of multiple unmet needs, is being more deeply involved in shaping the organisation’s strategy and campaigns through co-production. It highlights a recent in-person workshop focused on reimagining the WAN’s future, improving accessibility and collaboration, and co-designing campaign priorities in a trauma-informed and supportive way. 

Women In Prison published their Spring 2026 edition of their Still I Rise magazine. This edition focuses on providing information, advice, and support to women in the women’s prison estate and in the community through their women’s centres and beyond, particularly around resettlement, housing and post-custody employment.   

Youth Justice 

St Giles published a new blog which argues that UK public opinion is more progressive than current policy, with most people favouring rehabilitation, community sentences, and raising the age of criminal responsibility rather than imprisoning children. It highlights that custody is costly and less effective, calling for a shift toward prevention and support that addresses the root causes of youth offending. 

The Centre for Justice Innovation published their child-centred policing toolkit, arguing that it will allow them to work closely with police to advance child-centred policing that recognises children first and foremost as children.   

The Prison Reform Trust published a report which argues that young adults serving long prison sentences face major challenges due to their age, trauma and life stage, making it hard to cope with imprisonment and plan for the future. The report explains that prisons lack tailored, trauma‑informed support and calls for better relationships, meaningful activities and clearer progression to help them build positive futures.