Understanding prison from the inside out
Prison awareness training is very important for our team. This is how we learn what it’s like for someone to feel trapped in the Justice System. Each person who comes through our door needs tailored support to want make positive change.
Between them, Kevin Watts and Ivan Judd, our Coordinator at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court, have 80 years’ experience in the Criminal Justice System, including as prison officers. Their advice and specialist training has enabled our team to grow in confidence and to understand the complicated situations many people face. This year, we were pleased to open up the training to our partners at Path, a local homelessness charity.
Ivan explains why we do this training
It’s useful for CASS+ staff and volunteers, and other local partner organisations like Path, to understand a prisoner’s journey. We all work with people who have been in prison, are going to prison, or possibly are still in prison. CASS+ has a hotline to Exeter Prison so it really helps us to understand people better, relate to their experiences and perhaps help their transition back into communities.
Increasing prison population figures
The government updates the prison population figures weekly. There are now 85,572 people in prison in England and Wales*. Capacity is 86,709, so we are in the danger zone. These numbers are projected to increase to between 93,100 and 106,300 by March 2027. On the 24th June, government announced a rollout of rapid deployment cells at 18 prisons to meet the rising demand for places driven by the cost-of-living crisis and ‘the pandemic and exacerbated by last year’s barristers’ strike’. We now have a major 20,000 prison-place building programme under way. The Bromley Briefings published by the Prison Reform Trust provide further background.
Overwhelmed, under-funded and under-staffed system
Space is at a premium because prisons have been closed. There is often double-occupancy and any over-flow frequently goes into police cells. Many people are left in small cells with very little to do for long periods; frustration builds; and prison officers fear riots.
Factors to consider when a prison is allocated
Mental health, behaviour, sentence, previous convictions, security risks, substance misuse, health care issues, dementia, proximity to family, length of sentence, and availability of places all need to be taken into account. Although there are opportunities to re-train and work in some prisons, the system struggles to deal with people as individuals and many face mental health challenges, often as a result of past trauma.
Government cuts to mental health beds in the community mean that people who are acutely mentally ill are being sent to prison because safe places are very limited.
Factors to consider when someone leaves prison
When someone gets the right support on release, they are less likely to re-offend. For a positive re-settlement back into the community, they need a safe home and strong network. This is why we welcome the recent decision to end Friday prison releases when vital services are closing for the weekend.
‘Outside In’ events
It’s great to be invited to the Outside In event in the Departure Lounge at HM Prison Exeter, alongside other organisations like Harbour, Exeter Community Initiatives, Calisthenics Exeter, We are With You, Op Nova, Learn Devon, NHS Reconnect, Catch22, PATH and Shelter.
We work with everyone to find solutions within our communities. This is the key to preventing someone from feeling locked in the Criminal Justice System. We just want any prison leaver to know that we are here inside the Magistrates’ Courts in Newton Abbot, Plymouth, Bodmin and Truro, ready to help them resettle and make positive changes.
We are also here for you if you are a family member or a friend of someone who is in prison or has been to prison. We understand that this must have been a very difficult time for you. We can help in so many ways. Please do not hesitate to pop in to see us inside the Magistrates’ Courts in Devon and Cornwall – we are here for you.
This is how we help to reduce the risk of re-offending.
If you or a family member needs support to rebuild life after prison, you can find our contact details here.
If you would like to book the CASS+ Prison Awareness Training, please contact admin@cassplus.org.
*23rd June 2023