Welsh Prisoners In The Prison Estate

There is a pressing need for more prison places in Wales. There are only four prisons in Wales, all of which are in South Wales. The Committee urges the Government to be flexible in its approach, which would be consistent with the considered views expressed in recent reports by the Justice Select Committee.

The Committee undertook this inquiry to address concerns about the imprisonment of Welsh prisoners outside Wales. At present there are only four prisons in Wales, all in the South, and there is little provision for juveniles and no prisons for women. The overcrowding means that Welsh prisoners have a reduced chance of serving their sentence near home and reduces the chances of successful resettlement on release. The Committee believe there should be new prison places in North Wales, separate provision for young offenders and a new approach to women prisoners along the lines suggested by Baroness Corston. The report also address concerns about support services for mental illness amongst prisoners, the amount of Welsh language provision and education services.

Government response to the Committee's 3rd report of session 2006-07 (HC 74, ISBN 9780215034366)

Government response to HC 143 (ISBN 9780215544285). That report was a follow up to HC 74, 3rd report of session 2006-07 (ISBN 9780215034366)

This study represents the first systematic attempt to explore the functioning of the policing and criminal justice system in post-devolution Wales. Its particular relevance is underscored by the revelation that Wales has the highest imprisonment rate in western Europe. Drawing on official data as well as extensive interviews with senior figures, this book represents the first systematic exploration of the operation of the justice system in Wales across the jagged edge of devolved and non-devolved functions. There remains little understanding of how the justice system operates in the anomalous circumstances of post-devolution Wales This book aims to fill this gap in understanding and concludes with an assessment of the proposals of the Commission on Justice in Wales for reform.