Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 18
18
Deferred
Paragraph: 104
Resettlement support for remand prisoners is routinely unavailable due to contractual exclusions.
Conclusion
We were disappointed to hear that resettlement support is not routinely available to those held on remand due to this category of prisoners being excluded from contracts agreed with providers as part of the reunification of the probation service. Those held on remand have a similar need for resettlement support as the sentenced population and it is concerning that this support is not being provided simply due to contractual issues. We agree with the Minister that it is not acceptable that, in some cases, remand prisoners are being handed tents on release in the absence of suitable accommodation. The Ministry of Justice needs to do more to ensure that all people leaving prison have the option of temporary housing if it has not been possible to find more permanent accommodation prior to release. We welcome the commitment by the Government to update contracts with resettlement teams. The work to include those on remand in the contracts for resettlement accommodation should be completed by April 2023.
Government Response Summary
The government partially accepted the recommendation, stating that bail/remand decisions are judicial, and then focused entirely on discussing electronic monitoring as an alternative to custodial remand and engagement with the judiciary on its use, without addressing resettlement support or temporary housing.
Paragraph Reference:
104
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
We partially accept this recommendation. Decisions on whether to bail or remand a defendant are independent judicial decisions and so we can only partially accept this recommendation. The Government and the judiciary regularly discuss a wide range of topics. Recently, that has included engagement on electronic monitoring (EM), which can only be imposed on an individual as a condition of bail if they would otherwise be remanded in custody. EM is only used to monitor compliance with other relevant conditions of court bail, principally curfews and/or exclusion zones. As part of our court outreach programme of work (see the response to recommendation 20) we have started to highlight in particular the availability, flexibility, and usefulness of EM to monitor compliance with relevant conditions of bail. We are working with the Senior Presiding Judge to explore ways in which we can further engage with the judiciary.