§ Mr. WhiteTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent educational achievements are taken into account when considering the early release of prisoners; and what plans he has to incorporate a compulsory educational element into some sentencing. [38283]
§ Ms QuinThe primary concern when considering the early release of offenders is risk to the public. While educational achievements in prison may suggest that an offender is making an effort to equip him/herself for life in the community, they will play only a small part in the assessment of the level of risk which early release may pose. Among the proposals in the Crime and Disorder Bill is a Detention and Training Order for juvenile offenders. One of the features of the Order is the provision for early 267W (or late) release from custody to reflect the young person's progress against their sentence plan. The plan will be designed to prevent further offending and will include addressing the educational needs of the young offender.