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10/03/2010
Re-Offenders Cost £10bn
More could be done to rehabilitate prisoners serving short sentences and reduce their risk of re-offending, according to a National Audit Office report today.
It is estimated the handling of repeat offenders who have been jailed for short custodial sentences costs up to £10bn every year.
The National Offender Management Service (NOMS), responsible for managing such prisoners, has little information on the quality, cost or effectiveness of its rehabilitation activities.
More than 60,000 prisoners serve sentences of under 12 months each year at a cost to NOMS of around £300 million.
These prisoners tend to have more previous convictions than other offenders.
They also have a high level of homelessness, joblessness and drug and alcohol problems.
Although short-sentenced prisoners are kept secure, safe and well, the provision of daytime activity for them is generally inadequate to meet HM Inspectorate of Prisons' standards for a healthy prison, the Nation Audit Office found.
NAO said that one half of short-sentenced prisoners are not involved in work or courses and spend almost all day in their cells.
Only a small proportion of prison budgets is spent on activity intended to reduce re-offending by prisoners on short sentences, despite the fact that 60% of such prisoners are reconvicted within a year of release.
It is estimated this costs the UK taxpayer around £7bn to £10bn a year.
The NAO said that NOMS could achieve greater value for money by improving prisons' work with these offenders.
(PR/BMcC)
It is estimated the handling of repeat offenders who have been jailed for short custodial sentences costs up to £10bn every year.
The National Offender Management Service (NOMS), responsible for managing such prisoners, has little information on the quality, cost or effectiveness of its rehabilitation activities.
More than 60,000 prisoners serve sentences of under 12 months each year at a cost to NOMS of around £300 million.
These prisoners tend to have more previous convictions than other offenders.
They also have a high level of homelessness, joblessness and drug and alcohol problems.
Although short-sentenced prisoners are kept secure, safe and well, the provision of daytime activity for them is generally inadequate to meet HM Inspectorate of Prisons' standards for a healthy prison, the Nation Audit Office found.
NAO said that one half of short-sentenced prisoners are not involved in work or courses and spend almost all day in their cells.
Only a small proportion of prison budgets is spent on activity intended to reduce re-offending by prisoners on short sentences, despite the fact that 60% of such prisoners are reconvicted within a year of release.
It is estimated this costs the UK taxpayer around £7bn to £10bn a year.
The NAO said that NOMS could achieve greater value for money by improving prisons' work with these offenders.
(PR/BMcC)
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