Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 37
37
Deferred
Paragraph: 200
Publish data detailing how ROL changes improved female offenders' access to Education, Training, and Employment
Recommendation
We welcome the changes to release on temporary licence to give prison governors greater autonomy and allow prisoners more opportunities to work and train with employers while serving their sentence. However, it is not clear how these changes have considered the specific needs of female offenders. The Ministry of Justice should set out how the needs of female offenders were considered in this regard—specifically in relation to Education, Training and Employment (ETE). Additionally, the MoJ should set out how the changes have improved women’s access to ETE opportunities and should provide data to demonstrate this.
Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation but did not explain how changes to Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) specifically considered female offenders' Education, Training, and Employment (ETE) needs or provide data on improved ETE access via ROTL. Instead, it described a new performance measure for pre-release assessments for those with 10 months or less to serve (to be introduced in 2023) and outlined support structures for short-sentence prisoners focusing on resettlement and accommodation outcomes.
Paragraph Reference:
200
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
We accept this recommendation. A new performance measure will be introduced during 2023 for a pre-release assessment to be completed for people with 10 months or less to serve at point of sentence. The performance measure will provide assurance that pre-release planning is taking place. The Short Sentence Functions will consist of staff who will work with all people on probation with 10 months or less to serve in prison. This will enable them to be fast tracked and offered direct engagement. The delivery of short sentence support work for women will be done by pre-release teams embedded within women’s prisons who will provide the link between the woman in prison and her Community Offender Manager (COM) and Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS) provider in her home area. All sentenced people (including those on short term sentences) are eligible for support from specialist providers, including accommodation specialists. They will receive support prior to release to address their identified needs, including sustaining tenancies as appropriate. This will enable them to be fast tracked and offered direct engagement. It will ensure better connection with a hard to reach/engage group with high levels of recidivism. Success will be measured by monitoring improved levels of compliance and reduced rates of enforcement action. We would expect to see an improvement on accommodation outcomes. Work to sustain tenancies has the potential to improve number leaving prison retaining their accommodation where appropriate to do so.