Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 21
21
An ageing prison population creates specific pressures on the prison system.
Conclusion
An ageing prison population creates specific pressures on the prison system. Currently, the response to these and the treatment of older prisoners is highly inconsistent across the prison estate. Though the Model for Operational Delivery: Older Prisoners contains useful operational guidance, it is not enough to address this inconsistency and ensure the prison system can properly respond to the needs of the older cohorts. With the older prison population likely to rise further in the coming years, the MoJ should produce a national strategy for older prisoners. This strategy should encompass the provision of suitable accommodation for older prisoners, health 48 Ageing prison population and social care on the prison estate, and the release of older prisoners, including continuity of medical treatment or care in the community. It must also ensure that the resourcing and expansion of the prison estate is aligned to projections of the older prisoner population. (Paragraph 122) Ageing prison population 49
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
We agree that now is the time to produce a national strategy for older offenders, to ensure the prison system is best-placed to meet the needs of these offenders, and that they are treated consistently across the estate. We have commenced work on producing this, and our strategic priorities are that it will ensure older offenders: Ȥ Are held in the most appropriate environments; Ȥ Can access a purposeful regime within prison; Ȥ Can access health and care services equivalent to those within the community; and Ȥ Are prepared for their release and resettled effectively. • We have established a steering group to oversee progress on the strategy, which includes representation from many of the organisations which provided evidence for the Committee’s report, and are carrying out fieldwork for the strategy currently. We will write again to the Committee once the strategy is published to update on the action we are taking.