Prisoners: Rehabilitation

(asked on 26th May 2021) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people in prison (1) enrolled, and (2) completed, an offending behaviour course in each year since 2000.


This question was answered on 10th June 2021

National data on all prisoner enrolments (starts) and completions of prison delivered accredited offending behaviour programmes (OBPs) is collected and published annually. The latest available data goes up to and includes March 2019. Data up to and including March 2020 is due to be published shortly by the Ministry of Justice. This data will include some individuals who may have attended more than one accredited programme over time. Data on starts and completions before 2010 is not available, and the data available does not break-down information further by those currently in custody, or by sentence type.

Data shown in the tables below identify the number of enrolments (starts) in Table 1 and the completions each year over the same period in Table 2. The data shows a general maintained level of sexual offending programmes delivered over time. However, for other accredited offending behaviour programmes there has been a reduction in the volumes delivered.

Accredited programmes have significantly changed over time from a range of shorter programmes to more intensive specialist programmes which take longer to deliver and target prisoners with a medium and higher risk of reoffending. In 2011, responsibility for commissioning substance misuse programmes moved to the NHS resulting in a reduction in delivered volumes of accredited programmes. The changes have decreased the volume of places available, but places are better aligned to demands and the evidence base which suggests accredited programmes are most effective when targeted at cohorts with medium and higher risk of reoffending.

Table 1: Number of starts for OBPs in custody between the years ending March 2010 and March 2019, England and Wales

Year

Offending Behaviour Programmes

Sexual Offender Treatment Programmes

Substance Misuse Programmes

TOTAL

2010

8,209

1,153

10,166

19,528

2011

8,752

1,189

8,901

18,842

2012

8,607

1,162

7,330

17,099

2013

7,977

1,077

3,320

12,374

2014

7,179

934

882

8,995

2015

6,937

1,056

724

8,717

2016

6,373

1,113

458

7,944

2017

6,185

1,141

362

7,688

2018

4,979

1,022

147

6,148

2019

4,504

1,154

169

5,827

Table 2: Number of completions for OBPs in custody between the years ending March 2010 and March 2019, England and Wales

Year

Offending Behaviour Programmes

Sexual Offender Treatment Programmes

Substance Misuse Programmes

TOTAL

2010

7,339

1,130

7,630

16,099

2011

7,757

1,191

6,968

15,916

2012

7,692

1,166

5,943

14,801

2013

7,374

1,034

2,708

11,116

2014

6,390

877

749

8,016

2015

6,047

947

597

7,591

2016

5,545

1,144

368

7,057

2017

5,479

1,150

331

6,960

2018

4,403

993

122

5,518

2019

3,958

1,114

145

5,217

Table note: As with any data derived from large-scale recording systems, the figures are subject to possible errors with data migration and processing.

Source: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/873346/accredited-programmes-prisons-2018-19-march-2020-update.XLSX

The Government’s primary responsibility is to protect the public. Accredited programmes aim to protect the public and reduce reoffending and are part of a range of rehabilitation opportunities available. HM Prison and Probation Service remains committed to supporting the progression of those serving IPP and life sentences in custody, so that the Parole Board may direct their release as soon as it is safe to do so.

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