Description
Prison officers are able to work around the clock on weekends, while inmates are sometimes unable to access medical care or perform basic tasks, according to a report. The HM Prisons Inspectorate found that 60% of male inmates and 66% of female inmates said they spent less than two hours out of their cells on a typical Saturday or Sunday. On a weekday, 42% of male inmates and 36% of female inmates say they spend less than two hours a day out of their cell.
Nine in 10 prisons were said not to provide good enough "useful activity" on weekends, down from the previous low of 46% in 2016-17.
Men were more than twice as likely and women four times as likely to say they were in lockdown for more than 22 hours a day than before the pandemic.
Some would not leave their cell at all on a weekend day.
Those in high-security prisons were found to spend less time in their cells than those in other prisons.
At one prison, access to emergency medical care was so poor that an inmate suspected of having a broken hand was told no one could take him for an X-ray until Monday.
Other prisons had better access to medical care, offering emergency coverage but no routine appointments.
Case reviews of inmates deemed to be at risk of self-harm or suicide were often not conducted on weekends because mental health professionals were not available.
The report also found that most inmates were not unlocked long enough to shower or perform tasks like cleaning their cells, making phone calls and making demands on weekends.
If we don't rehabilitate them, and even further damage them with endless confinement, what will happen when they are released?
Peu d'entre eux ont pu diner en commun comme ils le feraient dans la semaine et dans certains cas, ils n'ont pas pu préparer leurs propres repas par manque de temps et de ressources, une aile ayant un seul microwaves pour 50 people.
Opportunities for inmates to participate in meaningful activities, such as going to the gym, were limited because some gyms were not always open and libraries were closed.
Outdoor time is not guaranteed on weekends, according to the report.
When inmates were allowed to socialize for short periods, the equipment often broke down.
Prison chiefs told inspectors that "chronic" staff shortages meant they could not run a weekend regime where inmates spent more time out of their cells.
At one prison, staff volunteered to provide night surveillance for inmates admitted to the hospital.
However, the inspection said that staff from another prison were "sitting back" instead of providing additional support and activities to inmates.
Family and friends were allowed to visit inmates and slots were not oversubscribed.
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, said: “Most prisoners are released into the community at some point.
“If we don't rehabilitate them, and even further damage them with endless confinement, what will happen when they are released?
"As pressure from the prison population increases, the situation can only get worse unless the prison service acts now."
The inspection visited 11 prisons unannounced in one day and interviewed 6,000 inmates to compile the report.
A Prison Service spokesman said: 'Our necessary action during the pandemic has saved lives and we have since called on all prisons to review their education, training and operations so that inmates can focus on their rehabilitation and in turn reduce the recidivism.
“We are also hiring up to 5,000 more corrections officers by the mid-2020s and creating an inmate education service to ensure inmates have the reading and numeracy skills they need to stay in prison on the right track and away from crime. ”.
Media
Access
