Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission: Call for Evidence

When answering this question, you may find it useful to reflect on one or more of the following:

Progress to release

• Key issues and influences in prisons affecting release from custody 
• How progression and barriers to progression in prisons affect release, and what needs to be done to help improve this and reduce delays 
• Whether or not incentivising participation in activities and programmes could be recognised through reductions in time served 
• How non-compliance and/or breach and recall to custody are handled

Preparing for release

• Experiences of being in prison preparing for release and insights on how rehabilitation and community reintegration can be supported
• Evidence of good practice in release planning and throughcare, including tailoring to support different demographics or groups
• Whether different needs and vulnerabilities are responded to in prisons and on release (e.g., mental health, neurodivergence and learning disability, substance use and addiction, homelessness, or conditions and care needs associated with older age)

Victim Support

• Victim support and advocacy perspectives, including the information and support needs of victims and families in this process

Families affected by imprisonment and release

• The needs and views of families affected by imprisonment and release

Ways of working

• Workforce and workload considerations, in particular for Justice Social Work, local authorities, and charities supporting people being released
• How technology could be used wisely and well, where appropriate

Existing recommendations

• Previous recommendations in this area made by other bodies or groups which, in your view, should be prioritised for implementation