Texas-style prison reforms that would allow inmates in England and Wales to reduce their sentences by earning points through participation in courses are being considered by ministers, it has been reported.
Labour is drawing up plans to replicate the model used in the US state where prisoners can cut their jail time by taking part in classes aimed at tackling the root causes of offending such as drug use, according to the Times. The courses will include education and vocational workshops, and drug or behavioural rehabilitation sessions.
The reforms have contributed to the prison population in Texas falling by 15% from 152,661 in 2007, when the scheme was first introduced, to 129,653 last year. Reoffending rates over the same period have fallen by about 30%.
Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary, is expected to visit the US later this year to look into the prospect of a similar scheme being adopted in England and Wales to reduce the swelling prison population and rate of reoffending.
The population in jails hit a record high of 88,521 earlier this month before the government’s emergency early release measures came into effect whereby people serving sentences for less serious crimes can leave prison after having served 40% of their sentences rather than 50%.
People who are serving sentences for serious violent offences with sentences of four years or more and sex offenders are not eligible for the early release scheme. However, those who have completed a sentence for a serious crime and are now serving a consecutive one for a less serious crime will be allowed to leave early.
It was reported on Wednesday that 37 offenders who were prosecuted using old harassment law have been released in error as part of the early release scheme. The Ministry of Justice is working with the police to return five offenders to custody with the majority back in prison, and it has issued staff with guidance in an effort to block further incorrect releases.
Prisons were already close to capacity when Labour came to power in July but the summer’s riots caused further strain on the system.
The MoJ is currently in negotiations with the Treasury before the fiscal statement on 30 October. The ministry declined to comment on the report.
