David Gauke’s 2025 Sentencing Review feels like a quiet admission that prison should be the last resort, not the default. It acknowledges what many in the sector have long known: longer prison sentences are not the deterrent they were thought to be. Instead, they’ve contributed to overcrowded prisons and undermined the system’s ability to deliver meaningful rehabilitation. While the change in direction is welcome, it’s telling that it comes from a capacity crisis, not a renewed commitment to reducing reoffending through evidence-led rehabilitation.
To reduce crime long-term, we need to tackle structural inequalities in employment and housing. It’s encouraging to see incentives reintroduced where good behaviour and engagement in rehabilitative programmes finally influence release decisions. This is a more effective and humane approach than the rushed Early Release Scheme, which left many unprepared.
Above all, we welcome the recognition of the vital role of third sector organisations. Being a sentencing review, it’s unsurprising that the importance of the third sector was mentioned mainly in the context of probation and community sentences. But we think there also needs to be more emphasis on the role we play in transforming someone’s time in custody. Rehabilitation needs to start at the same time a sentence does. Through the gate work is often made harder when you are playing catch up. That’s partly why we built the Constructive Custody Coalition in November 2024. How someone spends their sentence, and the change that happens inside, can determine whether they’ll return to prison or not. It’s why Beating Time has scaled up to two programmes, our choirs give the ability for somebody to survive a sentence and Inside Job is there to make sure they thrive on release.
As a small prison charity, we understand the complexity of barriers that stand in the way. Our strength lies not just in impact, but in collaboration, which is why we work in partnership with Recruitment Junction, combining our expertise, scaling with lower costs and boosting efficiency.
The system is in crisis. So we never take it for granted that the third sector play to their strengths and join forces to tackle the issues. To name a few. Project Remake, StandOut, Switchback, XO Bikes, Trailblazers Mentoring, Clean Slate and Belong, we’re supporting people to rebuild their lives with purpose and dignity. We’re also so lucky to work with dedicated and inspiring prison staff, on the ground and in the crux of the storm.
Now is the time to fund what works and commit to a more effective justice system. Together, person by person, we can turn the tide.