Book Description

With around 1500 prisoners and an estate of three prisons, the Northern Ireland Prison Service is a very small prison service. This inquiry was undertaken to examine whether the estate was adequate and appropriate for the secure accommodation of Northern Ireland's prisoners and whether the Prison Service meets the health, education and training needs of prisoners. One of the main conclusions is that the Current Comprehensive Spending Review does not provide sufficient capital for the substantial redesign of the prison estate. If criminal justice is to be devolved the Committee hope that capital investment in the prison estate will be a priority of the Northern Ireland Executive. If not the Secretary of State will have to argue for an increase in funding.