Global progressive policing
INTERVIEW

Transform Justice’s Penelope Gibbs: Why are prisons full?

 Save to watch laterYou need to be SIGNED IN
to use this feature.

Ben Twomey interviews Penelope Gibbs, Chief Executive of Transform Justice, discussing the current crisis in the prison system.

They explore the reasons behind overcrowding, the implications of remand, the effectiveness of early prisoner release, and the role of prisons in society. Penelope argues for a shift towards rehabilitation and support for offenders to reduce reoffending rates and create safer communities.

They discuss whether the government’s early release of prisoners is the right short term solution, and what needs to change in the longer term to protect victims of crime in the UK.

Takeaways

  • Prisons are currently at breaking point due to overcrowding.
  • The increase in prison population is a gradual process influenced by legislation and sentencing practices.
  • Remand populations are at an all-time high, exacerbated by court backlogs.
  • Many individuals on remand are not ultimately sentenced to prison, highlighting issues in the justice system.
  • Prison does not effectively rehabilitate offenders, leading to higher reoffending rates.
  • Support systems for released prisoners are inadequate, contributing to recidivism.
  • The government is committed to increasing prison capacity despite evidence suggesting it is ineffective.
  • Prison should be reserved for serious offenses, with alternatives for less serious crimes.
  • Public perception often favors punitive measures over rehabilitative approaches.
  • Effective crime reduction requires addressing root causes and providing support to offenders.

Sound Bites

  • “Prisons are completely full.”
  • “More people are being sent to prison.”
  • “Remand is a big issue.”

Chapters
00:00 – Introduction to the Prison Crisis
05:19 – Understanding the Causes of Overcrowding
10:01 – The Implications of Remand in Prisons
14:42 – Evaluating Early Release of Prisoners
18:27 – The Role of Prisons in Society
20:41 – Conclusion and Future Perspectives

Transform Justice has a regular podcast that you can follow here:

https://podfollow.com/the-transform-justice-podcast/view

Looking for further reading? Penelope suggests checking out recent work by the College of Policing:

https://www.college.police.uk/research/crime-reduction-toolkit/imprisonment-and-other-custodial-sanctions

Or reading NACRO’s ‘Better Justice’ report: https://www.nacro.org.uk/resource/better-justice-report-march-2024/

We have launched a YouTube channel where you can also view our videos – just click here and please like and subscribe PTV Youtube

PolicingTV content is being brought to you in partnership with Altia & Vantaset

Altia is a trusted partner for intelligence and investigation organisations globally. They specialise in improving the management of criminal and civil investigations, fraud and financial investigations, incident management and covert operations.

Their solutions and software help make investigations more efficient and effective, while also meeting regulatory, evidentiary and legislative requirements. 

For more information click here www.altiaintel.com/policingtv  

Vantaset delivers strategic alignment and performance software, transforming organisations and the way they work, 

Vantaset helps organisations transform their impact and competitiveness by delivering 

Better performance and productivity. Better staff engagement & Better stakeholder outcomes 

For more information click here www.vantaset.com

You must be registered and logged in to post a comment

Please LOG IN or REGISTER
Top