Gareth Johnson MP welcomes Justice Secretary’s announcement to get inmates to work

4^rd January 2012

Gareth Johnson MP welcomes Justice Secretary’s announcement to get inmates to work

“I support the announcement made by Ken Clarke today that the Ministry of Justice plans to double the number of inmates working in prison” said Gareth Johnson MP for Dartford.

Gareth raised the issue of reoffending rates in Parliament in October last year and was shocked to discover that in 2010 alone nearly 90% of those in Dartford who were convicted of a crime were reoffending.  The same figure was also true for Kent as a whole.

Gareth said

“By ensuring that prisoners gain relevant experience whilst serving their sentences their chances of finding employment upon their release will be improved and we will begin to see a drop in those re-offending. 

Whilst obtaining employment for people not in prison must be the priority, it makes sense to rehabilitate offenders whilst they are serving their sentences. It is wrong for prisoners to be able to spend the whole day just lying in bed”

ENDS

For further information contact Gareth Johnson on 0207 219 7047 or at [email protected]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8984942/Ken-Clarke-to-double-number-of-prisoners-working-full-time.html