PRT comment: Improving behaviour in prisons

Reacting to the findings of today’s (12 April) report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons Improving behaviour in prisons, Pia Sinha, chief executive of the Prison Reform Trust, said:

“Today’s welcome report reaffirms what many of us who have worked in prisons know implicitly. Giving people purpose, responsibility, incentives, and the opportunity to build trust, are the best routes to achieving safer prisons and supporting people away from crime. This report provides much needed hope at a time when all we are hearing from our prisons are stories of despair.

“It shows that even in the most complex places, strong and visible leadership—rooted in a relentless determination to improve the lives of those in their prisons—is an antidote to addressing even the most entrenched problems. The prison service must get better at learning from good practice, and the Government must urgently learn from our best prison leaders to rehabilitate our justice system and create safer communities.”