People in prison

Social characteristics of adult prisoners

Before they ever come into contact with the prison system, most prisoners have a history of social exclusion, including high levels of family, educational and health disadvantage, and poor prospects in the labour market.

The failure of mainstream agencies to deal with these aspects of social exclusion means that the Prison Service and Probation Service are in many cases being asked to put right a lifetime of service failure.
Social Exclusion Unit (2002) Reducing re-offending by ex-prisoners

Social characteristics of adult prisoners

Source:
Harker, L. et al. (2013). How safe are our children? NSPCC.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons (2024). Annual report 2023-24. HM Stationery Office.
Light, M., et al. (2013). Gender differences in substance misuse and mental health amongst prisoners. Ministry of Justice.
Ministry of Justice (2012). Accommodation, homelessness and reoffending of prisoners.
Ministry of Justice (2010). Compendium of reoffending statistics.
Ministry of Justice (2012). Estimating the prevalence of disability amongst prisoners.
Ministry of Justice (2012). Prisoners' childhood and family backgrounds.
Ministry of Justice (2012). The pre-custody employment, training and education status of newly sentenced prisoners.
Table KS611EW, Office for National Statistics (2012). 2011 Census.
Table 1, Office for National Statistics (2013). Families and households, 2012.
Office for National Statistics (2013). Labour market statistics, September 2013.
Office for National Statistics (2013). Population estimates for UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland — Mid 2012.
Welsh Government (2013). Absenteeism by pupil characteristics 2011/12.
Wiles, N. et al. (2006). Self-reported psychotic symptoms in the general population. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 188: 519-52.

People from an ethnic minority background in prison

Over a quarter (27%) of the prison population, 24,041 people, are from an ethnic minority group. 12% identify as Black/Black British; 8% as Asian/Asian British; and 5% as from a mixed ethnic background.¹

If our prison population reflected the ethnic make-up of England and Wales, we would have around 9,000 fewer men and boys in prison² — the equivalent of 12 average-sized male prisons.³

Ethnicity in prisons in England and Wales

The number of Asian and mixed ethnicity prisoners has risen sharply since 2004

Source: Ministry of Justice (2025). Offender management statistics quarterly: April to June 2025.

A 2016 study found that people from ethnic minority backgrounds face disproportionately higher odds of receiving custodial sentences for indictable offences at the Crown Court, with Black people 53%, Asian people 55%, and other ethnic minority groups 81% more likely to be imprisoned compared with white people, even after accounting for higher not guilty plea rates.⁴

Despite this evidence, in 2025 the government introduced legislation to block Sentencing Council guidelines directing sentencers to request pre-sentence reports (PSRs) for people from minority ethnic and cultural backgrounds.⁵ PSRs are widely understood to enhance judicial understanding of defendants’ circumstances, what would be the most effective sentences, and social backgrounds unfamiliar to the judge.⁶

Defendants from an ethnic minority background are more likely to be remanded in custody than white defendants. In 2024, Black defendants were 29% more likely, defendants of mixed ethnicities 22% more likely, and Asian defendants 19% more likely to receive this outcome.⁷

People from ethnic minority backgrounds serve a greater proportion of their determinate sentence in prison than people from a white background. In 2024, Black people spent the highest proportion of their sentence in prison (62%), followed by those from a mixed ethnic background (58%), white (56%), other ethnic background (54%), and Asian (53%) prisoners.⁸

3% of surveyed men, 1% of women and 8% of children in custody said that they identify as Gypsy, Roma or Traveller (GRT),⁹ compared to an estimated 0.1% of the general population in England and Wales.¹⁰

Fewer Black, Asian and minority ethnic men in prison say they have a member of staff they could turn to for help, or are treated with respect by staff. More say they have been bullied or victimised by staff.¹¹

A 2022 inspectorate review found that many Black prisoners felt that uneasy relationships with staff partly stemmed from underlying prejudice and racism, while few staff acknowledged the possibility of racism in their establishments.¹² People in prison from an ethnic minority background are more likely to report being recently restrained or segregated.¹³

Prison officers remain less ethnically diverse than prisoners. In March 2025, 10% of public sector prison officers (bands 3–5) identified as Black, 3% as Asian, and 83% as white, whereas 12% of prisoners identify as Black, 8% as Asian, and 72% as white. But 13% of officers did not have their ethnicity recorded or did not disclose it, compared with only 1% of prisoners.¹⁴

Ethnicity in prisons in England and Wales

Ethnic minority representation is even greater amongst younger prisoners

Source: Ministry of Justice (2025). Chapter 6: Offender management tables. Ethnicity and the criminal justice system 2024.

Older people in prison

With prison sentences getting longer, people are growing old behind bars. The number of people in prison aged 60 and over has grown rapidly over the last two decades. There are more than four times the number there were in 2002.¹⁵

Almost one in five (18%) of the prison population are aged 50 or over—16,163 people. Of these 4,559 are in their 60s and a further 2,109 people are 70 or older.¹⁶

The government projects a 14% rise in the prison population by 2029, including a significant increase in older prisoners. Those aged 50 and over are expected to grow by 15% and those aged 70 and over by 23%.¹⁷

474 people in prison were aged 80 or over as of 30 September 2025. All are men.¹⁸

Age in prisons in England and Wales

Over 50s account for almost one in five people in prison

Source: Ministry of Justice (2025). Offender management statistics quarterly: January to March 2025.

People with neurodivergent conditions

Neurodiversity

There is no universally accepted definition of neurodiversity. It was originally introduced as an alternative to deficit-based language to describe conditions that influence how people process information. People with neurodiverse conditions may have a different pattern of cognitive strengths, difficulties and perspectives to ‘neurotypical’ individuals. The Ministry of Justice considers neurodivergent conditions to include (but not exclusively) learning disabilities, learning difficulties, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism and acquired brain injury.¹⁹

People with neurodivergent conditions face systemic barriers in the criminal justice system, including limited understanding of their needs, inadequate support, and the inconsistent implementation of reasonable adjustments. In prison, they are often excluded from key aspects of the regime, including rehabilitative opportunities.²⁰

The lack of routine screening makes it difficult to estimate how many people in prison have a neurodivergent condition. Following a review of evidence, inspectors suggested that “perhaps half of those entering prison could reasonably be expected to have some form of neurodivergent condition”, compared to professionals’ estimate of 15–20% of the general population.²¹

Of prisoners screened through educational assessments in England in 2024—25, over half (57%) were identified as having a learning difficulty or disability.²²

In 2022–23, basic screening upon entry to custody suggested that nearly a third of arriving prisoners (31%) had a neurodivergent need.²³ But this data is not routinely published.

Inspectors surveying prison and probation staff found consistent low levels of awareness, understanding and confidence relating to neurodiversity. Less than a quarter (24%) of prison staff who responded said that they had received any training about neurodiversity.²⁴ Three out of four criminal justice professionals in England and Wales believe that impairments are sometimes missed.²⁵

Over the past decade the government has invested in liaison and diversion services in police custody suites and the criminal courts. These aim to identify people who have vulnerabilities, including neurodivergent conditions, and divert them towards a setting more appropriate for treatment. The roll-out achieved 100% coverage across England in March 2020,²⁶ and the services appear to increase diversion from custodial sentences.²⁷

Foreign nationals in prison

Who are foreign national prisoners?

The term “foreign national prisoner” encompasses many different people who have committed a criminal offence. People may have come to the UK as children; they may be second generation immigrants — often from former colonies; asylum seekers; people who have been given indefinite leave to remain as refugees; European and European Economic Area nationals; people who have been trafficked into the country; visitors or workers.

Foreign nationals (non-UK passport holders) currently make up one in eight people in prison in England and Wales (12%). On 30 September 2025 there were 10,737 foreign nationals in prison.²⁸

Foreign national prisoners come from 175 countries—but over half are from 11 countries (Albania, Poland, Ireland, Romania, India, Jamaica, Lithuania, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, and Portugal).²⁹

Between 2002 and 2008, the number of foreign nationals in prison increased by nearly 50%, compared with a 13% rise among British nationals. However, numbers steadily declined over the following decade, though have slightly risen over the past four years. Today, there are 6% fewer foreign nationals in prison than at their 2008 peak, while the number of British nationals has increased by 8%.³⁰

Almost one in 10 women in prison (9%) are foreign nationals.³¹ A research study found that in a sample of migrant women in prison, over half (56%) had been coerced or trafficked into offending.³²

A lower proportion of foreign nationals are in prison for violent (30%) and sexual offences (16%), compared with the overall prison population—36% and 19% respectively. However, they are more likely to be in prison for a drug offence (20%) or miscellaneous crimes against society (9%), compared with 13% and 5% for the overall prison population.³³

5,343 people were either removed or voluntarily returned to their home country in the year to September 2025 following a conviction for a criminal offence—a 10% increase compared with the previous year.³⁴

Women in prison

Why focus on women in prison?

A series of inquiries and reports in recent decades have all concluded that prison is rarely a necessary, appropriate or proportionate response to women who offend, including the influential Corston Report on women with particular vulnerabilities in the criminal justice system — published almost 20 years ago.³⁵

In June 2018, the Ministry of Justice published its long-awaited Female Offender Strategy. It promised a focus on early intervention, community-based solutions and better custody for those women who do have to be in prison. It recognised the evidence base for a distinct approach to women and a local whole system approach.³⁶

In 2023 the Ministry of Justice launched a new delivery plan, backed by a promised £24m investment in community solutions across 2023–25.³⁷ £15m had been awarded by October 2023.³⁸

In September 2024, the Labour government announced the creation of a Women’s Justice Board, aimed at developing earlier interventions for women and enhancing alternatives to prison, such as community sentences and residential women’s centres. A strategy was expected to be published in Spring 2025,³⁹ however, this appears to have been delayed.⁴⁰

On 30 September 2025 there were 3,527 women in prison in England and Wales — accounting for just 4% of the total prison population.⁴¹

Women entered prison on 6,275 occasions in the year to June 2025 — either on remand or to serve a sentence.⁴²

Most women entering prison to serve a sentence (63%) have committed a non-violent offence. In 2024, more women were sent to prison to serve a sentence for theft than for criminal damage and arson, drug offences, possession of weapons, robbery, and sexual offences combined.⁴³

Women tend to commit less serious offences — many serve prison sentences of less than 12 months

In 2024, women entered prison for committing these offences, to serve these sentences

Source: Ministry of Justice (2025). Offender management statistics quarterly: October to December 2024

On average, around one in five women who entered prison in 2022–23 (19%) said they had been in local authority care.⁴⁴ ⁴⁵

Nearly two-thirds of surveyed women in prison serving less than 12 months (63%) said they needed help with previous or ongoing trauma, including domestic violence.⁴⁶

Rates of self-harm are at a record high

Many women in prison have mental health needs and histories of abuse

Source: Ministry of Justice (2025). Safety in custody: quarterly update to December 2024

There were 20,174 incidents of self-harm by women in prison last year—around the same as recent record highs. The number of incidents had already nearly doubled (96%) between 2013 and 2022. Between June 2022 and 2023 alone, it increased by another two-thirds (65%).⁴⁷

Women account for a disproportionate number of self-harm incidents. In 2024 they accounted for more than one in four (28%) incidents of self-harm,⁴⁸ despite making up just 4% of the prison population.⁴⁹

46% of women leaving prison are reconvicted within one year. Of those who reoffended, 64% were serving a sentence of 12 months or less.⁵⁰

Women released from prison are more likely to reoffend, and reoffend sooner, than those serving community sentences.⁵¹

Almost three in five women (59%) left prison without settled accommodation in 2024–25.⁵²

More than 17,500 children were estimated to be separated from their mother by imprisonment in 2020.⁵³ Information on the caring responsibilities of women in prison and children living in the community is now recorded on entry to custody. However, this is not yet routinely published.⁵⁴

A 2024 analysis by the Ministry of Justice estimated that over half (55%) of women in prison have children aged under 18.⁵⁵

196 pregnant women were held in prison at some point during 2024–25—19 fewer than the previous year—with an average of 49 imprisoned at any one time.⁵⁶

42 babies were born to imprisoned women in 2024–25, compared to 53 in the previous year—all were born in hospital.⁵⁷ HMPPS does not record how many women experience miscarriage in prison.⁵⁸

Children in prison

Where are children held?

There are currently four main types of accommodation used to detain children in England and Wales.

Secure children’s homes (SCHs) — The eight SCHs generally accommodate younger children and are intended to provide tailored support for their needs.

Secure Training Centre (STC) — The sole remaining STC is a purpose-built place of detention for more vulnerable children aged 12–17, intended to provide education and rehabilitation.

Secure schools — There is currently one secure school, operated by Oasis Restore, which opened in June 2024 and will eventually accommodate up to 49 children. but has been temporarily closed since September 2025 due to safety concerns about heavily damaged doors.⁵⁹

Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) — The five four YOIs in England and Wales are designated as prisons that can accommodate children — although due to the current prison capacity crisis for adults, there are currently 118has seen young adults also accommodated there.⁶⁰

Children are committing fewer recorded crimes — proven offences in 2024 were 61% lower than in 2014.⁶¹

The number of children sentenced to in custody fell steeply from 4,657 in 2009–10 to 660 children in 2023–24, although this number was an increase of 21% on the year before (546 children).⁶²

Sentence lengths are getting longer. The average custodial sentence length for children increased from 11.3 months in 2010 to 17.5 months in 2024.⁶³

At the end of November 2025 there were 379 children in custody in England and Wales; 15 children were aged 14 or younger.⁶⁴ The number of children in custody has fallen by 81% compared with 15 years ago.⁶⁵

Children in prison in England and Wales

Child custody has fallen sharply — and so has offending

Source: Youth Justice Board (2025). Monthly youth custody report September 2025.
Youth Justice Board (2025). Youth Justice Statistics 2023-24. And previous editions

More than two in three children in custody in 2024 were there for offences of violence against the person (68%).⁶⁶

More than half of children in custody are from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic background (51%). The drop in youth custody has not been as significant for ethnic minority children—between 2014 and 2024 the population in custody dropped by 56%, compared with 72% for white children.⁶⁷

8% of children in custody said they were from a traveller community.⁶⁸ Just 0.2% of all children in England and Wales are from a Gypsy or Irish Traveller background.⁶⁹

Fewer than 1% of all children in England are in care,⁷⁰ but nearly two-thirds (65%) of children in custody reported to inspectors that they have been in care at some time in their lives.⁷¹

In 2024–25, inspectors were concerned that children’s perceptions of their time in custody had worsened, with too much time still spent locked up, higher levels of violence than the adult prison estate, and poor relationships with staff.⁷²

Three in five children (61%) said they spend more than two hours out of their cell on weekdays, and just 45% at weekends.⁷³

More than two in five children (43%) told inspectors that they had felt unsafe where they are currently held.⁷⁴

Separation of children from their peers continues to be widespread. There were 1,038 instances of separation involving 480 children in 2023–24. Nearly two-thirds of surveyed children (64%) had been kept locked up and prevented from mixing as a punishment. Inspectors found separation is a common method of managing conflict and risk, and that many children choose to self-separate for safety.⁷⁵

Less than half of children (49%) said they felt cared for by staff.⁷⁶ In 2025, inspectors raised serious concerns about the failure of the Youth Custody Service to create environments where staff and children can form positive, appropriate relationships which integrate care with custody.⁷⁷

Only one YOI had a full inspection during 2024–25: Feltham A. It was judged as poor in safety and purposeful activity, but reasonably good in care and resettlement.⁷⁸ The remaining STC, Oakhill, was judged as inadequate, and later issued with an Urgent Notification. Inspectors said that it does not currently have capacity to improve.⁷⁹ SCHs are inspected by Ofsted, with reports only available on request.

Young adults in prison

What is a young adult?

The definition of “young adults” is not straightforward in criminal justice. The DYOI sentence (a custodial sentence specifically for young adults) legally classifies them as aged 18–20, however HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) policy and practice increasingly recognises that brain development and maturation takes place up to the age of 25. Yet currently, most data sources report on young adults aged 18–24. Data in this section refers to 18–24-year-olds, unless otherwise stated.

10,813 young adults are currently in prison in England and Wales—they account for 12% of the total prison population.⁸⁰

There are now almost half as many young adults in prison as there were 20 years ago.⁸¹

A 2015 study found that 18–24 year olds have the highest level of Black, Asian and ethnic minority over-representation in the adult prison estate of all age groups. If our prison population reflected the make-up of England and Wales, we would have 2,850 fewer Black, Asian and ethnic minority young adults in prison.⁸²

Almost two in five (39%) 18–20 year olds in prison are serving a sentence for violence against the person, almost one in five (18%) for drug offences, and around one in ten for robbery (11%) and theft (9%).⁸³

On average, 53 18–20 year olds are entering prison each year to serve a life sentence—up from an average of 31 a decade ago.⁸⁴

In 2025, there were 1,905 people in prison serving a life sentence with a tariff of 15 years or more, who were sentenced at age 25 or younger⁸⁵—more than twice as many as in 2013.⁸⁶

Young adults accounted for over one in five (21%) self-harm incidents in prison in 2024.⁸⁷

There were more than 6,900 assaults initiated by young adults in 2024—accounting for 30% of all assaults.⁸⁸

Use of force

The rate of force used against young adults in prison is much higher than for older adults

Source: Bosworth et al. (2025). Use of force: an exploratory analysis of use of force in prisons 2018 2023. HM Prison & Probation Service.

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