Coronavirus (COVID-19): The impact on prison, probation and court systems
Justice Committee
Closed
Inquiry
This inquiry looked at the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on prisons, probation services, court systems and legal professions. Read the key points in an interactive summary of our four reports on the impact of coronavirus on the justice system .
26
Recommendations
16
Conclusions
3
Reports
80
Letters
5
Events
Activity timeline 87 events
9 Mar
2021
2021
24 Feb
2021
2021
24 Feb
2021
2021
3 Feb
2021
2021
3 Feb
2021
2021
27 Jan
2021
2021
19 Jan
2021
2021
19 Jan
2021
2021
Formal meeting · Virtual meeting
15 Jan
2021
2021
18 Dec
2020
2020
16 Dec
2020
2020
Reports 3 reports · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7th Report: Coronavirus (COVID-19): the impact on the legal prof… | HC 520 | 3 Aug 2020 | 16 | Responded |
| 4th Report - Coronavirus (Covid-19): The impact on prisons | HC 299 | 27 Jul 2020 | 16 | Responded |
| 3rd Report: Coronavirus (COVID-19): The impact on probation serv… | HC 461 | 20 Jul 2020 | 10 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
7 results
3
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
3rd Report: Coronavirus (COVID-19)…
The model of probation delivery has changed substantially in the weeks since the introduction of...
The model of probation delivery has changed substantially in the weeks since the introduction of the UK lockdown, particularly the way in which case-management supervision is delivered. Additionally, other areas such as unpaid work and interventions have stopped. We recognise …
Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges backlogs in unpaid work and accredited programmes due to social distancing, noting that case lists may continue to grow. It is considering options for unpaid work and has developed and received approval for an Alternative Delivery Format (ADF) to maximise programme delivery, alongside issuing guidance for completing commenced modules.
Ministry of Justice
View details
4
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
3rd Report: Coronavirus (COVID-19)…
We recommend that the Ministry of Justice and HMPPS set out how the probation service...
We recommend that the Ministry of Justice and HMPPS set out how the probation service intends to address the backlogs that have built up over the past three months. Additionally, we recommend that the Ministry and HMPPS set out how …
Read more
Government Response
The government details steps to address probation backlogs and ensure sentence completion, including considering options for unpaid work (UPW) and developing an approved Alternative Delivery Format (ADF) for accredited programmes. It also issued guidance to allow completion of commenced programme modules via one-to-one delivery, despite acknowledging ongoing challenges due to social distancing.
Ministry of Justice
View details
9
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
3rd Report: Coronavirus (COVID-19)…
Accommodation is an important resettlement need for prison leavers, and we welcome the work that...
Accommodation is an important resettlement need for prison leavers, and we welcome the work that the Ministry of Justice and HMPPS have done during the pandemic to ensure that prison leavers have the best access to accommodation as possible. We …
Read more
Government Response
The government states the Covid-19 Accommodation Upon Release Scheme was extended until 31st August and will be kept under review. For the longer term, HMPPS is considering how to continue the work of the Homelessness Prevention Taskforces and use lessons learned to develop improvements in probation services.
Ministry of Justice
View details
7
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
4th Report - Coronavirus (Covid-19…
While the secure video calling service is a temporary measure implemented in direct response to...
While the secure video calling service is a temporary measure implemented in direct response to the changes across the estate resulting from Covid-19, the Committee 28 Coronavirus (Covid-19): The impact on prisons believe there is scope for this service to …
Read more
Government Response
The government states that video calling is available in over 110 prisons and is expected in all establishments by year-end, addressing the expansion. However, it is still exploring the longer-term sustainability of the service and does not provide costings.
Ministry of Justice
View details
11
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
4th Report - Coronavirus (Covid-19…
We ask the Government to set out how many prisoners were actively considered for release...
We ask the Government to set out how many prisoners were actively considered for release under the scheme and the principal reasons why just over 5 per cent were in fact released early.
Government Response
The government states that 262 prisoners were released under the ECTR scheme and provides detailed reasons for the lower-than-anticipated numbers, citing public protection and stringent risk assessments. However, it does not specify how many prisoners were actively considered for release.
Ministry of Justice
View details
13
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
4th Report - Coronavirus (Covid-19…
We welcome the sourcing and installation of temporary units to increase headroom across the prison...
We welcome the sourcing and installation of temporary units to increase headroom across the prison estate. We welcome the announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Summer Statement on 8 July that £60m is being made available to …
Read more
Government Response
The government reports that 1,150 temporary units are installed and aims to deliver 1,000 more Rapid Deployment Cells in the 2021/22 financial year. It states it is considering the long-term use of these units but does not provide costings for the full 2,000 units or a specific re-deployment plan.
Ministry of Justice
View details
15
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
4th Report - Coronavirus (Covid-19…
We recommend that the MoJ and Youth Custody Service set out how they have responded...
We recommend that the MoJ and Youth Custody Service set out how they have responded to the crisis in the context of the children’s estate and how the specific needs of children have been considered. It is also unclear why …
Read more
Government Response
The government detailed the Youth Custody Service's response to the crisis, including the development of Exceptional Delivery Models, re-commencement of face-to-face education and visits, and a focus on essential activities for children. However, it did not explicitly set out what is being done to address disparities in regimes across the youth estate.
Ministry of Justice
View details
Correspondence 80 letters
9 Mar 2021
Letter dated 4 March 2021 from Sir Robert Neill MP, Chair, Justice Committee, to the Attorney General, on Statutory Instrument - The Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (Specified Proceedings) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Order 2021
Parliament page
24 Feb 2021
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, dated 16 February 2021, regarding funding of Nightingale court sites
Parliament page
24 Feb 2021
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Suella Braverman QC MP, Attorney General, dated 9 February 2021, regarding the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 Order 2021
Parliament page
3 Feb 2021
To committee
Letter from Robert Buckland QC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, dated 29 January 21, regarding Custody Time Limits
Parliament page
3 Feb 2021
To committee
Letter from Robert Buckland QC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, dated 28 January 2021, regarding Rapid Testing pilot at Manchester Civil Justice Centre
Parliament page
27 Jan 2021
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, dated 20 January 2021, regarding follow up to the evidence session on 1 December
Parliament page
19 Jan 2021
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, dated 13 January 2021, regarding Prosecution of Offences Regulations 2021
Parliament page
15 Jan 2021
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, dated 8 January 2021, regarding evictions SI
Parliament page
16 Dec 2020
To committee
Letter from Chair to Foreign and Commonwealth Office, dated 16 December 2020, regarding Lugano
Parliament page
15 Dec 2020
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, dated 8 December 2020, regarding update on coronavirus protection from evictions
Parliament page
1 Dec 2020
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Lord Chancellor & Secretary of State for Justice, dated 25 November 2020, regarding custody time limits
Parliament page
25 Nov 2020
To committee
Letter from Sir Robert Neill MP, Chair, Justice Committee, to Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice on Public Health (Coronavirus) (Protection from Eviction and Taking Control of Goods) (England) Regulations 2020
Parliament page
13 Oct 2020
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Suella Braverman QC MP, Attorney General, dated 7 October 2020, regarding issuing of fixed penalty notices
Parliament page
29 Sep 2020
To committee
Letter from Dame Anne Owers, National Chair, Independent Monitoring Boards, dated 22 September 2020, regarding update on IMBs findings
Parliament page
29 Sep 2020
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, dated 28 September 2020, regarding the resumption of possession proceedings after 20 September
Parliament page
16 Sep 2020
To committee
Letter from Chair to Rt Hon Suella Braverman QC MP, Attorney General, dated 16 September 2020, regarding Fixed Penalty Notices
Parliament page
10 Sep 2020
To committee
Letter from Chair to Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, dated 10 September 2020, regarding extension of the stay on possession proceedings
Parliament page
9 Sep 2020
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, dated 24 August 2020, regarding extending the temporary stay on possession proceedings
Parliament page
21 Jul 2020
Written evidence from Fair Trials
Parliament page
21 Jul 2020
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, dated 19 July 2020, regarding additional Courts and Tribunals Capacity programme
Parliament page
15 Jul 2020
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, dated 7 July 2020, regarding the impact of COVID-19 on criminal enforcement
Parliament page
8 Jul 2020
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, dated 30 June 2020, regarding Court and Tribunal recovery update
Parliament page
8 Jul 2020
To committee
Letter from Dame Anne Owers, National Chair, Independent Monitoring Boards, dated 2 July 2020, regarding update on IMB findings
Parliament page
1 Jul 2020
To committee
Letter from Chris Philp MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, dated 17 June 2020, regarding release of HMCTS' weekly operational management information dashboard
Parliament page
30 Jun 2020
Covid 19 briefing from Law Centres Network
Parliament page
30 Jun 2020
Covid 19 briefing from Young Legal Aid Lawyers
Parliament page
30 Jun 2020
Covid 19 briefing from Law Society's Junior Lawyers Division
Parliament page
30 Jun 2020
Covid 19 briefing from Chartered Institute of Legal Executives
Parliament page
30 Jun 2020
Covid 19 briefing from Legal Aid Practitioners
Parliament page
30 Jun 2020
Covid 19 briefing from Transform Justice
Parliament page
24 Jun 2020
Covid 19 briefing from Arthur Michael Robinson
Parliament page
17 Jun 2020
Covid-19 briefing from Unlock
Parliament page
17 Jun 2020
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon The Lord Burnett of Maldon, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, dated 9 June 2020, regarding open justice
Parliament page
17 Jun 2020
Covid-19 briefing from Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group
Parliament page
17 Jun 2020
Covid-19 briefing from Criminal Justice Alliance
Parliament page
17 Jun 2020
To committee
Letter from Lucy Frazer QC MP, Minister of State for Justice, dated 10 June, regarding reforms to probation services
Parliament page
10 Jun 2020
To committee
Letter from Dame Anne Owers, National Chair, Independent Monitoring Boards, dated 3 June 2020, regarding update on findings
Parliament page
10 Jun 2020
To committee
Letter from Lucy Frazer QC MP, Minister of State for Justice, regarding Covid 19 plans for easing of restrictions
Parliament page
10 Jun 2020
To committee
Letter from Juliet Lyon, Chair, Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody, dated 1 June 2020, regarding rapid review of prisoner experiences under Covid-19
Parliament page
10 Jun 2020
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Suella Braverman QC MP, Attorney General, dated 3 June 2020, regarding SI on Prosecution of Offences Act 1985
Parliament page
10 Jun 2020
To committee
Letter from Chair to Attorney General, dated 9 June 2020, in response to her letter of 3 June
Parliament page
10 Jun 2020
Covid 19 briefing from the Children's Rights Alliance for England and the Youth Justice Legal Centre, part of Just for Kids Law
Parliament page
10 Jun 2020
To committee
Letter from Chris Philp MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, dated 3 June 2020, regarding changes made to mitigate the impact of Covid 19 on the Courts and Tribunal System
Parliament page
4 Jun 2020
To committee
Letter from Lucy Frazer QC MP, Minister of State for Prisons and Probation, dated 26 May 2020, regarding HMPPS reporting of staff cases of Covid-19
Parliament page
4 Jun 2020
To committee
Letter from Lucy Frazer QC MP, Minister of State for Prisons and Probation, dated 22 May 2020, regarding deployment of temporary Accommodation across the Prison Estate as part of covid 19 mitigation plan
Parliament page
4 Jun 2020
Covid 19 briefing from JUSTICE
Parliament page
4 Jun 2020
To committee
Letter from Lucy Frazer QC MP, Minister of State for Prisons and Probation, dated 28 May 2020, regarding covid 19 testing for prison and probation staff
Parliament page
4 Jun 2020
Covid 19 briefing from Howard League for Penal Reform
Parliament page
4 Jun 2020
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, dated 28 May 2020, regarding CPT Statement of Principles
Parliament page
4 Jun 2020
Covid 19 briefing from Prison Reform Trust
Parliament page
4 Jun 2020
Covid 19 briefing from Clinks
Parliament page
28 May 2020
COVID-19 briefing from NACRO
Parliament page
28 May 2020
COVID-19 briefing from Prison Reform Trust
Parliament page
28 May 2020
COVID-19 briefing from Clinks
Parliament page
28 May 2020
To committee
Letter from Lucy Frazer QC MP, Minister of State for Justice, dated 15 May 2020, regarding Covid 19 in prisons family contact
Parliament page
22 May 2020
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, dated 11 May 2020, regarding resumption of jury trials
Parliament page
13 May 2020
To committee
Letter from Lucy Frazer QC MP, Minister of State for Justice, dated 4 May 2020, regarding COVID 19 testing for prison and probation staff
Parliament page
5 May 2020
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, dated 5 May 2020, regarding Covid-19 impact on legal sector
Parliament page
5 May 2020
To committee
Letter from Lucy Frazer QC MP, dated 28 April 2020, regarding update on the Prison Estate
Parliament page
5 May 2020
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Robert Buckland MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, dated 28 April 2020, regarding Covid 19 in prisons PHE modelling
Parliament page
28 Apr 2020
To committee
Letter from Susan Acland-Hood, Chief Executive, HM Courts and Tribunals Service, dated 27 April 2020, relating to Covid 19 the impact on prison, probation and court systems
Parliament page
22 Apr 2020
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, dated 6 April 2020 regarding an update on Covid-19
Parliament page
22 Apr 2020
To committee
Letter from Lucy Frazer QC MP, Minister of State for Justice, dated 1 April 2020, regarding temporary release from custody of pregnant prisoners
Parliament page
8 Apr 2020
COVID-19 briefing from Women in Prison: additional material on women's Centre planning for release
Parliament page
8 Apr 2020
COVID-19 briefing from Transform Justice
Parliament page
8 Apr 2020
COVID-19 briefing from JUSTICE
Parliament page
8 Apr 2020
To committee
Letter from Sir Robert Neill to Lord Chancellor, dated 8 April 2020 regarding Committee hearing on 7 April 2020
Parliament page
8 Apr 2020
COVID-19 briefing from the Public and Commercial Services Union
Parliament page
8 Apr 2020
COVID-19 briefing from Women in Prison
Parliament page
8 Apr 2020
COVID-19 briefing from an Individual Barrister
Parliament page
8 Apr 2020
COVID-19 briefing from INQUEST
Parliament page
8 Apr 2020
COVID-19 briefing from Prison Governors Association
Parliament page
8 Apr 2020
COVID-19 briefing from Magistrates Association
Parliament page
8 Apr 2020
COVID-19 briefing from Switchback
Parliament page
8 Apr 2020
COVID-19 briefing from Standing Committee for Youth Justice
Parliament page
8 Apr 2020
COVID-19 briefing from Revolving Doors Agency
Parliament page
8 Apr 2020
COVID-19 briefing from Prison Reform Trust
Parliament page
8 Apr 2020
COVID-19 briefing from Howard League
Parliament page
8 Apr 2020
To committee
Letter from Chair to Chancellor of Exchequer, dated 8 April 2020, on future of legal professions
Parliament page
8 Apr 2020
COVID-19 briefing from Criminal Justice Alliance
Parliament page