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Prisons' risk test for temporary freed lifers is inadequate, say watchdogs Prisons' risk test for temporary freed lifers is inadequate, say watchdogs
(about 5 hours later)
Thousands of murderers and rapists and other life-sentenced prisoners are released on temporary licences every year without the risk they pose to the public being properly assessed, according to official watchdogs.Thousands of murderers and rapists and other life-sentenced prisoners are released on temporary licences every year without the risk they pose to the public being properly assessed, according to official watchdogs.
The chief inspectors of prisons and probation say that too often the official risk assessments drawn up before long-term prisoners go out on temporary release are little more than summaries of the inmates' accounts of their crimes and progress.The chief inspectors of prisons and probation say that too often the official risk assessments drawn up before long-term prisoners go out on temporary release are little more than summaries of the inmates' accounts of their crimes and progress.
Although the re-offending rate for the 13,385 life-sentenced prisoners in England and Wales remains very low, at only 2% to 5%, the inspectors' findings follow several high-profile cases over the summer when life prisoners released on licence allegedly committed serious crimes.Although the re-offending rate for the 13,385 life-sentenced prisoners in England and Wales remains very low, at only 2% to 5%, the inspectors' findings follow several high-profile cases over the summer when life prisoners released on licence allegedly committed serious crimes.
The justice secretary, Chris Grayling, ordered a review of the temporary release system after a convicted murderer, on his first day out, allegedly killed a "good samaritan", and after a second case in which a released prisoner held up a London bank with a gun.The justice secretary, Chris Grayling, ordered a review of the temporary release system after a convicted murderer, on his first day out, allegedly killed a "good samaritan", and after a second case in which a released prisoner held up a London bank with a gun.
The critical joint report by the prisons and probation watchdogs says that the number of life-sentenced prisoners in England and Wales rose from fewer than 4,000 in 1998 to 13,385 this March.The critical joint report by the prisons and probation watchdogs says that the number of life-sentenced prisoners in England and Wales rose from fewer than 4,000 in 1998 to 13,385 this March.
A life sentence has also got longer, with the average mandatory lifer now spending 16 years behind bars compared to an average of 13 years in 2001.A life sentence has also got longer, with the average mandatory lifer now spending 16 years behind bars compared to an average of 13 years in 2001.
But the chief inspectors say that despite this dramatic increase the management of those convicted of the most serious offences has been allowed to drift with no strong direction or control by the National Offender Management Service.But the chief inspectors say that despite this dramatic increase the management of those convicted of the most serious offences has been allowed to drift with no strong direction or control by the National Offender Management Service.
In one significant finding the inspectors found that lifers were treated much the same as other prisoners, with little attention being given to their particular circumstances, so that some could serve their sentence with relatively little challenge to their attitudes and behaviour.In one significant finding the inspectors found that lifers were treated much the same as other prisoners, with little attention being given to their particular circumstances, so that some could serve their sentence with relatively little challenge to their attitudes and behaviour.
The chief inspector of prisons, Nick Hardwick, said there was a sense of drift in the treatment of lifers: "They are people, on the whole, who are going to be compliant and they've learned how to be good prisoners. But you are not testing whether or not they are going to be good prisoners, you are testing whether or not they are going to be a good citizen and those are two different things.The chief inspector of prisons, Nick Hardwick, said there was a sense of drift in the treatment of lifers: "They are people, on the whole, who are going to be compliant and they've learned how to be good prisoners. But you are not testing whether or not they are going to be good prisoners, you are testing whether or not they are going to be a good citizen and those are two different things.
"The public would expect assurance that those processes are properly managed, the risk assessments done properly, and proper attention is given to that. That's a reasonable expectation.""The public would expect assurance that those processes are properly managed, the risk assessments done properly, and proper attention is given to that. That's a reasonable expectation."
Liz Calderbank, chief inspector of probation, said there was room for improvement in the way risk assessments were done; basic elements were missing and confusion abounded over who was responsible for completing the assessments.Liz Calderbank, chief inspector of probation, said there was room for improvement in the way risk assessments were done; basic elements were missing and confusion abounded over who was responsible for completing the assessments.
One unidentified prison had deleted the "risk of harm" section in paperwork for prisoners going on temporary release so as to "simplify the process".One unidentified prison had deleted the "risk of harm" section in paperwork for prisoners going on temporary release so as to "simplify the process".
The inspectors said there were instances where temporary release decisions had been taken based on out-of-date information, where there was poorly completed paperwork and no input from offender managers. In one case, preparations were so poor the prisoner ended up arrested for begging at the local train station.The inspectors said there were instances where temporary release decisions had been taken based on out-of-date information, where there was poorly completed paperwork and no input from offender managers. In one case, preparations were so poor the prisoner ended up arrested for begging at the local train station.
Calderbank said the difficulties facing prison staff in making an objective or detached assessment had been underestimated; they worked day by day with prisoners over very long periods of time.Calderbank said the difficulties facing prison staff in making an objective or detached assessment had been underestimated; they worked day by day with prisoners over very long periods of time.
Hardwick said he feared that Grayling's "transforming rehabilitation" policy, with its focus on short-sentenced prisoners, could lead to attention being further diverted from this group.Hardwick said he feared that Grayling's "transforming rehabilitation" policy, with its focus on short-sentenced prisoners, could lead to attention being further diverted from this group.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Thursday, Calderbank said: "My worry is the process prior to release needs to be strengthened. It's complex and that needs to be recognised."
She added that dealing with those on life sentences should remain with the national probation service and the process should not be part of expected reforms in which players outside the probation service could compete to reduce re-offending rates.
Describing the report as a "very balanced assessment" of good and bad practice, the junior justice minister Jeremy Wright said he agreed with much of what Calderbank was saying.
He said specialists should be looking after these complex cases and confirmed that these types of offenders would continue to be handled by the national probation service.
"The secretary of state [Grayling] and I have already ordered that there should be a review of release on temporary licence. We need to be absolutely confident that in each and every case the risk assessment is done in a strenuous and effective way," he said.
"Where there have been terrible cases, and there have been terrible cases, there are lessons to be learned of wider application for all those released on temporary licences."
"It's important to me that we get this process right," he said, adding that the department's own review would be delivered in the next few months.