The Northern Ireland Prison ServiceRobin Masefield

Max MurrayBrian Ingram

toThe Judicial Studies Board

13 February

VisionStatement of purpose

"The Northern Ireland Prison Service, through our staff, serves the community by keeping in secure, safe and humane custody those committed by the courts; by working with prisoners and with organisations, seeks to reduce the risk of re-offending; and in so doing aims to protect the public and to contribute to peace and stability in Northern Ireland."

Our vision

"To be recognised as a model of good practice in dealing with prisoners and to be valued and respected for our service to the community."

Our values

• Recognising that the Service requires the commitment of all of us;• Leading well and behaving with integrity;• Upholding prisoners' human rights and working with them as individuals to become law-

abiding;• Ensuring that we each have the required skills and competencies;• Accepting responsibility and accountability;• Managing resources, including our time, cost effectively;• Showing an innovative approach to our work;• Team-working and acting in partnership with other organisations;• Demonstrating a commitment to fairness, equality and respect for each other and those

we are in contact with.

The Northern Ireland Prison Service

Max MurrayHead of Operations - NIPS

&The Judicial Studies Board

13 February

The Prison Estate

Prison ServiceCollege

Hydebank WoodYOC and Prison

Prison ServiceHeadquarters

MaghaberryPrison

MagilliganPrison

Prisoner AssessmentUnit

Maghaberry Prison

• Prisoner population – 798 – (13th Feb 07)

• Main committal prison for Northern Ireland

• Holds all adult remand prisoners, life sentence/SOSP male prisoners, separated prisoners, prisoners requiring special protection, male prisoners who are subject to a hospital order or who require psychiatric assessment, along with fine defaulters/civil prisoners

• Prisoner Assessment Unit (PAU) at Crumlin Road

Magilligan Prison

• Prisoner population - 420 – (13th Feb 2007)

• Accommodates low and medium risk prisoners serving less than 6 years

• Accommodation comprises 3 H-Blocks, dormitory accommodation and a low security complex called Foyleview where prisoners have an opportunity for work placement in the community.

• ¼ of population are sex offenders.

• Focus is on resettlement and preparation for release.

Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre• Male prisoner population - 195

– (13th Feb 2007)

• The Centre accommodates all young male offenders aged between 16 and 21 years on conviction. It contains a separate Juvenile Unit for under 18s. Current pop. 16 under 18s.

• Hydebank Wood provides an environment in which the inmate has a firm, disciplined yet stimulating regime focusing on;

– Risk reduction through addressing criminogenic behaviours and lifestyle such as car crime and drug use.

– Creating stability and restoring family ties.– Education in particular targeting key skills in

literacy & numeracy.

Hydebank Wood Female Prison• Female prisoner population - 31

– (13th Feb 2007)

• Currently developing gender specific policies & strategies for the management of female prisoners.

• Focus on

– Mental Health & harm reduction

– Multi disciplinary approach involving Knockbracken Healthcare, Probation, NIACRO

– Charity work has raised £12,500 but limited scope for outworking.

Key facts:

• Average sentence length = 21 months• On remand for greater than 9 months = 63 (28th

December 2006)• Fine defaulters = 31% of all receptions (2006)• 47 foreign national prisoners representing 18

separate nationalities

36. 7%

63. 3%

Remand

Sentenced

Prisoner PopulationAdult male sentenced 805

Adult male remand 412

Female sentenced and remand

31

Male young offenders sentenced

90

Male young offenders remand

105

Total 1443

Northern Ireland prison population trendline 1967 - 2014

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

Low projectionMiddle projectionHigh projection

Figures as of 13th February 2007

• Prisoner population projected to grow by 6% (2005-2009) and 5% (2010-2020)

• Future prisoner growth will take the Prison Service well beyond the current number of cells available by summer 2008 if not before.

Prison Population 2001 - 2007

800850900950

10001050110011501200125013001350140014501500

Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

Population by type of offence

0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%

Viole

nce

Sexual

Robber

y

Burgl

ary

Theft

Fraud

Drugs

Moto

ring

Other

England & Wales Northern Ireland

Total receptions - 2005

Length of sentence

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

<3mths <6 mths <1 yr <2 yrs < 3 yrs <4 yrs < 5 yrs <10 yrs >10 yrs<Life

Life

Average pop. - 2005

Length of sentence

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

<6 mths 6 mths - 1 yr 1 yr - 4 yrs > 4 yrs < Life Life

England & Wales Northern Ireland

Total receptions - 2005

Age profile - sentenced

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

Under 16yrs]

17-20 yrs 21-29 yrs 30-39 yrs 40-49 yrs 50-59 yrs

England & Wales Northern Ireland

Average pop. - 2005

Drug use on committal

41%

25%

19%

6%4%

3%2%

None

Alcohol

Cannabis

Ecstasy

Prescription

Amphetamines

Heroin

The Northern Ireland Prison Service

Brian IngramHead of Resettlement Branch - NIPS

&The Judicial Studies Board

13 February

What is resettlement?

Resettlement is a systematic and evidence-based process by which actions are taken to work with the offender in custody and on release; to ensure that communities are better protected from harm and re-offending is significantly reduced.

What we already know about offenders:• 50% of prisoners will experience problems within

their community because of their offending (manifested in punishment beatings, sectarian attacks, intimidation)

• 50% of prisoners will have accommodation concerns on release

• 70% Adult male offenders have numeracy/literacy deficiencies

• 51% are unemployed on committal

• 34% were in care as a child

What we already know about offenders:

• 60% have substance misuse problems – 90% for females

• 60% of prisoners diagnosed as suffering from mental health problems

• 45% of all offenders are reconvicted within 2 yrs of release

• 49% have financial difficulties

• In 2006 the cost of the NI criminal justice system was £1.4 billion

Factors which help offenders desist from criminal activity when released:

• Offenders with jobs up to 50% less likely to re-offend

• Offenders with accommodation, at least 20% less likely to re-offend

• Offenders with family support up to 50% less likely to re-offend

• Offenders without essential skills, education or training three times more likely to re-offend

• Offences by drug dependent offenders cut by 70% while in community-based treatment

Resettlement Pathways

Family Links

Benefits &Debt

Addiction Support

Suitable Accommodation

Training & Development

Health Care

Educational Attainment

MinisterialOffending

Group (MOG)

EmploymentOpportunity

Offending Behaviour

Reduced Re-offending

PublicProtection

VictimAwareness

GoodCitizenship

Multi-AgencyGroup