Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant the Answer of 9 May 2018 to Question 139479, what rehabilitation strategies his Department has put in place to prepare Gypsies and Travellers for release from prison.
All rehabilitation schemes within Her Majesty’s Prison Service are available to all and tailored to the specific needs of the individual. They focus on areas such as employment and accommodation.
The general training of new prison officers covers information about working with Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller prisoners. Refreshed Probation Officer training is currently being introduced. This includes content on the particular needs of the Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller groups, with a particular focus on the challenges that these groups may face in complying with community orders or periods of licence, associated with lifestyle.