Dame Anne Owers’ comprehensive review of the 2022-24 prison capacity crisis reveals a system repeatedly pushed to the brink of collapse. Her findings should concern us all.
The stark reality is that the criminal justice system came within days of total breakdown multiple times, with officials working 5:30am-midnight shifts just to keep the system functioning, over £70 million was spent housing prisoners in unsuitable police cells and 13,000+ prisoners released early under emergency schemes with inadequate preparation.
But this isn’t just about numbers, it’s about lives. The review exposes how capacity pressures compromised prisoner safety and rehabilitation, and reduced purposeful activity when prisoners need it most.
There’s hope in the data: Youth justice shows what’s possible. The under-18 prison population dropped from 3,000+ to just 400 through community-focused prevention. Women’s numbers have also stabilized through early intervention.
The choice is clear, we can either continue the cycle of crisis management, or invest in evidence-based alternatives that actually reduce reoffending and keep communities safer.
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