Healthcare
The medication tracker unit is still not in use despite over a year of waiting.
Safety
The prison’s ongoing challenges of preventing the entry of illicit items seem to indicate a lack of human and technological resources to combat and discourage this behaviour.
Other
The negative impact of some responses from probation services in the community to prison offender manager (POM) requests for action in processing prisoners’ applications for release on temporary licence (ROTL).
Education/Purposeful Activity
Low levels of functional skills attainment amongst prisoners arriving at the prison, despite many having served substantial sentences in the closed estate.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Opportunities for resettlement activities at the prison are significantly hindered by lack of connectivity affecting Wi-Fi availability.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Prisoners transferred in are often late and therefore are disadvantaged because they arrive outside the normal working regime of the prison.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The general poor state of prisoner accommodation at Sudbury, particularly dormitory accommodation, remains an extremely live issue for prisoners.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Prisoner property is not being efficiently transferred with them, and this has little improved since we reported on it last year.
Substance Misuse
The high proportion of positive mandatory drug testing (MDT) outcomes.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
There is no quiet space for prisoners who may wish to find some respite from sharing a room on a busy and often noisy dormitory.
Complaints/Property
A substantial number of complaints which were not processed by the deadline.
Other
Perceived inconsistencies between offender management unit (OMU) staff in processing their ROTL applications and in the communication of progress with these.
Safety
Prisoners who arrive at Sudbury out of working hours for the healthcare centre may potentially be at risk until they can be seen by a healthcare professional the following day.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The incentives for compliance initially promised for the ISFL project have been slow to be delivered, resulting in some asking to leave the dormitory.
Safety
The Board has noted with concern that some prisoners who have a legitimate need to leave their workplace for appointments are failing to return once these have been completed.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
The issue of learners withdrawing from courses once begun, which was reported in last year’s report, remains an issue.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
There is no provision to teach English as a second language (ESOL).
Resettlement/Release
There is a lack of opportunities in office-based, fitness and catering areas for work placements.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
A review of prisoner pay has been undertaken this year but, as yet, there have been no improvements to pay levels.
Substance Misuse
There have been discussions during this reporting year between the SMS team and the Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) service to develop drug awareness sessions for families and carers when they attend the prison. The plan is to include information on the use and administration of naloxone (a drug to manage substance misuse overdose). The dialogue continues but there have been many challenges to overcome.
Substance Misuse
There has been an absence during this year of representatives from Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous due to a lack of volunteers.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Some Board members have received comments this year from prisoners about a lack of presence in the chapel when they have gone there seeking some support. Board members have certainly observed that recently there is rarely any orderly around to help and signpost prisoners seeking support. This was not always the case and orderlies used to greet visitors, which was encouraging. Given that the chaplains are often engaged in one-to-one work with prisoners and not readily available to anyone seeking support, it seems unfortunate that the orderlies working in the chapel are not currently visible and able to meet and greet.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The small wildlife garden needs further maintenance and liaison with the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has lapsed.