Prison environment and health

Prison population

Imprisonment is a growing problem. During the past 20 years, the number of prisoners in England and Wales has nearly doubled (fig 1⇓). The Scottish and Northern Irish prison populations have also substantially increased. Prison capacity has struggled to keep up, and 60% of prisons are officially overcrowded.2 These increases are not explained by changes in criminal behaviour, as recorded crime is falling,3 but by more frequent use of custodial punishment and lengthier sentences.

The prison population of England and Wales is nearly 87 000.5 This is a rate of imprisonment of 154 people/100 000 population,6 one of the highest in western Europe (fig 2⇓). Scotland’s prison population is just over 8200 (154/100 000)7 and Northern Ireland’s 1700 (99/100 000).8 There are 131 prisons in England and Wales, 14 of which are privately run.7 Women make up just 5% of prisoners, and there are 13 women’s prisons in England, but none in Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland each have one dedicated women’s prison and there are also two Scottish male prisons with small female prisoner units. The prison budget was £2.18bn …