Select committee: Justice Committee
Recommendation 11
5th Report - Ageing prison population
Published 27 Jul 2020
Paragraph 77
Addressed to Ministry of Justice
Justice Committee Ageing prison population All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
Continuing to incarcerate prisoners with severe dementia, who may no longer remember or understand why they are imprisoned, raises practical and ethical 46 Ageing prison population considerations, especially as their condition is very difficult to manage on the prison estate. Equally, the Committee recognises that a significant element of this cohort are convicted for historic sexual offences. Particular attention must be given to the feelings of victims of such cases, both because of the nature of the offending itself and because of delays often experienced in bringing such perpetrators to justice. We recognise that some of those victims may consider that alternative custody arrangements and potential early release of some individuals risks adding to the suffering that they have already endured. This must be taken into consideration. The Government should review whether alternative arrangements for housing prisoners with advanced dementia would be more appropriate in some circumstances.
From: Justice Committee, 5th Report - Ageing prison population (HC 304), paragraph 77, 27 July 2020
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 17 November 2020 (deadline 27 September 2020).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government says it recognises the report's themes, has commissioned an older offenders strategy as recommended, and, because that strategy is in development, is "not yet in a position to answer each of your recommendations fully".
- On the national strategy, the government says "We agree that now is the time to produce a national strategy for older offenders", has "commenced work" and will write to the Committee once the strategy is published.
- On accommodation, the government is "considering models for accommodating older offenders as part of the older offenders strategy" and will update further once it is published. It says it will outline its long-term estates plans towards the end of the year and consult the Committee early next year.
- On projections, the government says updated prison population projections are "now due to be published on the 26th November" and will factor in additional police officers and recent sentencing policy changes.
- On telemedicine, NHS England and NHS Improvement have worked with HMPPS, and approved software and equipment "has now been procured and rolled out in all English prisons".