Two centuries ago, the Gaols Act of 1823 established new benchmarks for prisoner treatment. The leader of the reform movement, Elizabeth Fry, attracted large crowds with her public appearances. Fortunately, the excessive cruelty of the 19th-century penal system is a thing of the past. However, the current state of prisons in England and Wales is far from satisfactory. Staffing levels in prisons have been deemed “dangerously low” according to a government contract, and overcrowding has once again become a severe issue. The recent inquiry into the death of a newborn baby at Bronzefield jail in Surrey is nothing short of shocking. Rianna Cleary, an 18-year-old mother, gave birth alone in her cell while on remand, and prison officers failed to respond to her pleas for help. The situation was so dire that she resorted to using her teeth to sever the umbilical cord.
Both the NHS trust responsible for maternity care at Bronzefield and the prison itself have issued apologies and claimed improvements since 2019. However, the overall situation in both women’s and men’s prisons has been worsening, rather than improving. Disturbingly, self-harm incidents are alarmingly frequent, with 16,543 recorded in men’s prisons in the first quarter of this year. The rate in women’s prisons is approximately 11 times higher, although the actual number of incidents involving women is lower due to the smaller number of female prisoners. Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons, has issued an urgent notification regarding Bristol prison, deeming its condition “completely unacceptable.” There are concerns about Scottish prisons as well, with a recent report criticizing the use of solitary confinement.
For Mr. Taylor, the most significant concern, apart from overcrowding, is the lack of purposeful activity, which is crucial for rehabilitation. Nick Hardwick, Mr. Taylor’s predecessor, describes prisons as being in the most dangerous state he has ever witnessed. The current prison population of 86,763 is expected to increase further, with ministers facing pressure over the court backlog and a determination to increase the number of rape charges.
Equally troubling is the unlikelihood of improvement. Justice Secretary Alex Chalk has revised guidelines on transfers to open prisons, which should result in better decision-making in some cases. However, under the Conservatives, the trend has been towards increased incarceration and a shift away from community-based punishments. In 2021, only 72,000 community sentences were used compared to 185,000 in 2011. Meanwhile, as the general election approaches, Labour’s concerns about being depicted as “soft” seem to outweigh their interest in a more nuanced policy that balances punishment, deterrence, and rehabilitation. It is disappointing that Sir Keir Starmer, with his background as a prosecutor, has not been more forthright in explaining to the public why overcrowded prisons filled with despairing individuals pose a risk rather than providing security.
Prison cells are inherently unsafe for pregnant women and new mothers. The mental health services and funding for long-overdue repairs to dilapidated buildings must be improved. However, beyond these specific points, the entire system should prioritize rehabilitation, which is currently impossible due to the prevailing conditions. We need more assertive voices to advocate for this cause.
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