Noting that "£1 billion can buy 10 votes for the length of this Parliament," and, "[t]he same amount could improve our prison system and make it fit for generations to come for a very long time," Lord Dholakia asked "a fundamental question: do prisons really rehabilitate inmates?"during the third day of the Humble Address to the Queen's Speech. Answering his own rhetorical question Lord Dholakia spoke of his dismay that "the Government have certainly sacrificed some key reforming measures that should have been included in the gracious Speech."
Highlighting his point, Lord Dholakia stated: "[o]ne such issue, referred to by my noble friend Lord Paddick, is the problems in our prison system." This is an issue Lord Dholakia has championed during many parliamentary sessions and there is, as he pointed out: "[t]he need for greater efforts to promote prisoners’ rehabilitation is clear from even the most cursory look at reoffending rates. Some 44% of adult prisoners, 59% of short-term prisoners and 69% of juvenile prisoners are reconvicted within a year of their release—an unending cycle that continues to repeat itself on a regular basis."
Stating how the 'revolving door' sees inmates continually return to prison, Lord Dholakia said: "[a]ll too often their pro-criminal attitudes are unchanged. Imprisonment causes many prisoners to lose their accommodation, their jobs and, sometimes, their families."
Asking if the Minister would "look at the Ofsted inspection of prison education provision and Unlocking Potential, the report produced by Dame Sally Coates?" that recommended improvements to prison facilities Lord Dholakia continued "we know that focused offending behaviour programmes can reduce reoffending. These programmes can change attitudes to reoffending and improve empathy with victims."
Lord Dholakia maintained that: "we need to go much further than [the report] and ensure that every prisoner who needs a programme to tackle his offending behaviour or an intensive drug or alcohol treatment programme can get on to one." Showing the difficulties there are Lord Dholakia commented on the importance of domestic violence courses saying: "waiting lists are often far too long. Sadly the wait is not surprising when: "[w]e now have 148 prisoners in England and Wales for every 100,000 people in our general population compared with 101 in France and 76 in Germany."
Finishing off, Lord Dholakia urged "the Government to think again about their regrettable decision to drop the prison-related elements of their previous Prisons and Courts Bill from the programme for this Session. Those provisions amounted to just 22 clauses."
