In a recent Parliamentary session, Bridgwater MP Ashley Fox questioned Shabana Mahmood, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, on errors in the early release of prisoners and measures to reduce reoffending.
Ashley Fox raised concerns over 37 prisoners being wrongly released and asked what steps were being taken to prevent such mistakes from happening again.
Ashley also highlighted the need for better education and training in prisons, saying, "The best way to reduce reoffending is to ensure released prisoners can participate in the labour market. What steps are being taken to improve education and training in the prison system?"
Shabana Mahmood confirmed that all 37 wrongly released prisoners had been returned to custody and agreed on the need for education, skills, and employment opportunities to reduce reoffending, "Access to literacy training, skills, and the ability to get a job is important in helping an offender turn their back on crime. We know that jobs and housing are part of the solution if we want people to become better citizens rather than better criminals.”
