Open unit to help low risk offenders get back into community

styalprison

HMP Styal is the first prison to launch its open accommodation, with a house just beyond the prison gate which will accommodate up to 25 "low risk" offenders.

Justice Minister Simon Hughes opened the new accommodation on Thursday, 29th January, which will act as a stepping stone back into the community for female prisoners nearing release.

The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is reconfiguring the women's prison estate, to keep women closer to home by providing smaller open prison units next to existing 'closed' prisons. Styal prison is the first 'closed' prison to develop open accommodation alongside the main establishment.

The open prison will give low risk prisoners the opportunity to find work, re-establish family ties, find housing and reintegrate into the community.

Until this week, a female offender nearing release from custody would need to move to one of only two women's open prisons in Kent or Yorkshire, potentially having to move a long distance away from their homes, families and local community.

Justice Minister Simon Hughes said: "The launch of the open accommodation at Styal is the first step of a vital reform we are making to the women's prison estate – helping female offenders prepare for their release by testing them in open conditions, and at the same time keeping them as close to home as possible.

"This will mean that before leaving custody, they can already start to make the local links they need on their release – such as finding job opportunities, housing, or other local services.

"These are essential factors to helping offenders turn away from crime and change their lives for good.

"All offenders being located in open conditions have been risk assessed and categorised as being of low risk to the public and a low risk of reoffending."

Styal prison is one of the 12 women's prisons with a capacity to hold 460 women in closed conditions and up to a further 25 in open conditions.

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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Debra Conroy
Monday 9th February 2015 at 5:15 pm
Great news, not! More potential criminals on our doorstep to contend with. Why should they be rewarded after offending. The money used to fund this open prison should have been spent on a more worthwhile project.
Ryan Dance
Tuesday 10th February 2015 at 10:45 am
Debra - look up the word "rehabilitation".