NCJ Number
86078
Date Published
1980
Length
59 pages
Annotation
Proposals from a parliamentary committee to reduce Great Britain's prison overcrowding focus on reserving custody for those offenders considered to be a real danger to society and reducing the length of present prison sentences.
Abstract
In mid-March 1980, the prison population of England and Wales was the highest ever, and 40 percent were in overcrowded conditions. Prison officials warned that immediate action was needed to avoid prison violence. To resolve this crisis, the committee first suggests that imprisonment is wrong in principle for the mentally ill, habitual drunken offenders, and drug addicts and that community facilities should be established. It then identifies other prisoner types for whom imprisonment could be reduced without endangering the public, namely petty persistent offenders, men imprisoned for not paying maintenance to their families, fine defaulters, prostitutes, cannabis users, persons convicted under the Vagrancy Acts, and prisoners awaiting deportation or removal. As an alternative, the report recommends increased use of hostels, day centers, employment schemes, community service orders, and police cautioning. Relevant revisions in the criminal laws are outlined. Reducing the number of prisoners awaiting trial and sentence is another method of attacking prison overcrowding. To further this objective, bail hostels and legal services should be extended and the practice of remanding juveniles to adult prisons should cease. A two-tiered sentencing structure is suggested to place limits on the court's sentencing powers and reduce sentence lengths. Other approaches to limiting the prison populations include mandatory background reports on first offenders and deferred commencement of custodial sentences. The report recommends extending the scope of the Criminal Injuries Compensations Board to help victims of crime. It concludes with a summary of the recommendations and a list of organizations which submitted evidence to the working commitee.