The Northern Ireland Prison Service

1. The Northern Ireland Prison Service Robin Masefield Max Murray Brian Ingram to The Judicial Studies Board 13 February

2. Vision Statement 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.

3. The Northern Ireland Prison Service Max Murray Head of Operations - NIPS & The Judicial Studies Board 13 February

4. The Prison Estate Prisoner Assessment Unit Magilligan Prison Prison Service Headquarters Prison Service College Hydebank Wood YOC and Prison Maghaberry Prison

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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

10. Northern Ireland prison population trendline 1967 - 2014 3500 Low projection 3000 Middle projection High projection 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Prisoner Population 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.

11. Population by type of offence Total receptions - 2005

12. Length of sentence Average pop. - 2005

13. Length of sentence Total receptions - 2005

14. Age profile - sentenced Average pop. - 2005

15. Drug use on committal

16. The Northern Ireland Prison Service Brian Ingram Head of Resettlement Branch - NIPS & The Judicial Studies Board 13 February

17. 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.

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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 supportup 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

21. Good Citizenship Victim Awareness Multi- Agency Group Resettlement Pathways