Inspectorate of Prisons for England and Wales reports on conditions for prisoners on remand

2nd August 2012

A report by the Inspectorate of Prisons for England and Wales has criticised the standard of prison regimes, accommodation and the process of release for prisoners in custody on remand . In 2010, almost 30,000 remand prisoners were released in England and Wales following their trial, having been acquitted or having not been given a custodial sentence. Chief Inspector, Nick Hardwick, found an overall lack of clarity in relation to the rights of remand prisoners compared to sentence prisoners. Following the inspection of 33 local prisons, the Inspectorate report draws attention to the complex needs of remand prisoners, who face increased risks of suicide and self-harm compared to sentenced prisoners, and over one third of whom report a drug or mental health problem.  

Irish context: 

• On 16th July 2012, almost one quarter of female prisoners in custody were on remand. (Source: kildarestreet.com)
• On 30 November 2010, 709 out of the total 4440 inmates were in prison on remand. (Source: Irish Prison Service Annual Report 2010)
• Cloverhill prison mainly accommodates remand prisoners in the Leinster area. On 17th June 2012, of all prisons, Cloverhill had the highest number of cells containing four prisoners - one hundred men in twenty cells. (Source: kildarestreet.com)
• A 2005 National Forensic Mental Health Service study of mental health in sentenced, remand and newly committed prisoners in Ireland (Mental Illness in Irish Prisoners) found that the highest rates of psychosis and depressive disorders were among remand prisoners. According to the study - 
• The rate of psychosis in remand prisoners in Ireland is much higher than in comparable samples from abroad.
• 63% of remand prisoners were unemployed upon committal.
• 75.2% of remand prisoners had a lifetime history of alcohol or drug problems.

Read more:

• Thematic report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons
• The Guardian: 'Remand prisoners treated worse than sentenced inmates' (2 August 2012)
• National Forensic Mental Health Service report 'Mental Illness in Irish Prisoners'