Former Justice Secretary Advocates for Increased Use of Open Prisons to Tackle Overcrowding

A former justice secretary is urging the government to significantly expand the use of open prisons in the UK to alleviate overcrowding and aid in prisoner rehabilitation. David Gauke, who is currently leading a government review of sentencing policy, believes that transferring thousands of inmates to lower-security facilities could save costs and reduce reoffending rates.

Gauke's recommendations come after his observation of the Spanish prison system, where a quarter of inmates are allowed to leave during the day. He argues that the UK does not utilize open prisons to their full potential. Currently, only 5,143 of the UK's 86,000 prisoners are housed in Category D prisons, which allow for work and education outside the facilities.

Transitioning inmates to open prisons not only allows them to work and rebuild family relationships, which Gauke says are critical for rehabilitation, but it also proves to be more cost effective. The annual cost for housing an inmate in an open prison is approximately £27,348, significantly lower than the £51,108 for a secure prison.

However, expanding the open prison system would require investment. Currently there are only 1,000 spare spaces available in existing facilities. Despite this, Gauke maintains that the investment is essential.

His sentencing review, expected to be released in the spring, will recommend increased use of alternatives to incarceration, including community sentences and house arrest. Gauke suggests utilizing technology, like electronic tagging, to further support this initiative.

The timing of the review is critical, particularly in light of recent overcrowding issues that resulted in the early release of some inmates. Gauke stresses that his proposals are not about being "soft on crime," but about finding more effective methods to reduce it, drawing inspiration from other countries that have successfully reduced their prison populations.

Gauke acknowledges that his proposals are unlikely to be popular across the board, but he insists on the need to reset the national conversation surrounding the prison system.