Task 4

Too Many Prisoners, Too Few Staff - Why Our Prisons Are in Crisis

Our prisons are in crisis - violence, self-harm and deaths in custody are at all-time high, prison capacity is stretched way beyond its limits and far too few prison officers struggle (17) _______. Against this backdrop, the Government has published its long-awaited Prisons and Courts Bill. They now accept (18) _______; they must be places of education, rehabilitation and reform.

The last three decades have seen numbers in England and Wales rising more sharply than ever, almost doubling to today’s level of about 85,000. The latest figures again show (19) _______ in Western Europe. Prisons are massively overcrowded, while chronic staff shortages mean staff cannot even ensure safety.

We need to take a hard look at sentencing policy. The increased use of minimum sentences has tied judges’ hands, (20) _______ and discretion to adopt alternatives to prison where appropriate.

Unless the Government gets prisoner numbers down and devotes the resources necessary (21) _______, building a renewed prison estate and providing effective education, training and other purposeful activity in every prison, all they will be doing is (22) _______ to staunch gaping wounds.

(Adapted from: http://www.hufi‘ingtonpost. co.uk/lord-marks/uk-prison_b_1 542443 8. http://utm_hp_ref=uk-crime)