Justice Secretary Suggests Housing Prisoners Freed Early in Hotels

September 11, 2024 TruthUSA

Approximately 1,700 prisoners were released early from prison on Tuesday to alleviate prison overcrowding, with many more set to be released under the same program.

The justice minister mentioned that prisoners freed early to address jail overcrowding might be accommodated in hotels.

During a session in the House of Commons, Shabana Mahmood stated that these emergency measures would be necessary if there wasn’t enough space in existing community accommodation, risking homelessness for released inmates.

On that day, around 1,700 prisoners were released early, in addition to the regular 1,000 weekly releases.

In a debate on prison capacity, Mahmood mentioned that the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) was collaborating with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to assess the impact of releasing a large number of prisoners all at once on the housing sector.

The justice secretary explained, “Probation staff are working diligently on release plans, including accommodations. If an offender faces homelessness upon release, they will be placed in community accommodation.

“While most offenders are expected to be housed using existing facilities, probation directors have been authorized to utilize alternate arrangements, such as budget hotels, if necessary for upcoming cases.”

When asked by Conservative MP Edward Argar during another part of the Commons debate about contacting specific hotels for potential use, the minister indicated that probation directors were authorized to arrange accommodations if necessary, but it wasn’t confirmed at that moment.

Mahmood affirmed that she would inform the House, local authorities, and the public if the need arose to house prisoners in hotels, sharing details about location, numbers, and timing.

If the MoJ decides to utilize hotel accommodation for released prisoners, it would add to the Home Office’s practice of using hotels for housing illegal immigrants and asylum seekers, incurring significant costs for the taxpayer, as indicated in a report.

Unavoidable Reoffending

In July, Mahmood announced plans to reduce the minimum time served by some inmates from 50% to 40% to address prison overcrowding. Recent figures show a record high of 88,521 individuals in prison.

About 5,500 inmates are scheduled for early release under the program, with more to follow in October.

Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor stated that some released prisoners would likely reoffend, attributing this to the strain on the prisons and probation service in releasing a large number of inmates in a short period, leading to inadequate support for reintegration into society.

Taylor acknowledged that while most released prisoners would adjust well, some would inevitably return to custody or face homelessness.

Growing Prison Population

The HM Inspectorate of Prisons annual report highlighted shortcomings in preparing inmates for early release.

The report projected a potential increase of 27,000 in the prison population by 2028, emphasizing the challenge of constructing adequate accommodations to meet the demand.

The government attributed current overcrowding to the failure of the previous administration to expand prison infrastructure.

Mahmood emphasized that the early release initiatives are temporary, allowing time to implement long-term changes in the prison system, including infrastructure development and reduced recidivism rates.

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