Prisoners are denied important work placements

9:00am Friday 5th September 2008

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PRISONERS at Leyhill are apparently unable to prove themselves ready for society because of a lack of work placements.

In a report, written by the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB), inmates at the open prison are being prevented from making the necessary progress in their rehabilitation because of a reduction in the number of community placements available to them.

As an open prison Leyhill prepares prisoners for safe resettlement in society, targets reducing offending behaviour, and improving education and work skills through supervised voluntary and paid work.

The IMB's annual report said the problem was particularly worse for sex and child offenders.

Leyhill is one of only two open prisons in the country which accepts life prisoners of these two categories. In the last 12 months the prison has had around 50 sex and child offenders, accounting for almost half of its lifer population.

The IMB said without suitable work placements prisoners are unable to fulfil their parole requirements and prove themselves in the community. Prisoners are managed according to their risk, and are assessed for Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) by a multi-disciplinary team.

The report said: "The worrying situation frustrates and potentially alienates dangerous offenders who thought that moving to open conditions meant they would be able to start proving they were ready to move on.

"While the management continue to support this group they continue to seek stakeholder endorsement for alternative and affordable ways to test them."

Mick Bell, governor at HMP Leyhill, said: "We are constantly seeking work placements for offenders, who must pass a rigorous risk assessment process and receive close supervision.

"Placements help prepare prisoners for release into the community and give them skills and experiences which make them less likely to re-offend in the future."

The IMB is a committee appointed by the Minister of Justice from members of the local community, which inspects the prison annually.