The Prison Reform Trust have now published a report detailing the experiences of prisoners with direct knowledge of the Category A review process.
Category A is assigned to those prisoners deemed to pose the highest risk in the event of their escape. Categorisation is linked to a prisoner’s index offence. It is usually reviewed shortly after sentencing and then, with some exceptions, again after two years and annually thereafter.
The review found an ‘opaque’ review process, with many prisoners reporting that decisions on whether to downgrade their Category A status were based on inaccurate data and poor-quality reports. Many did not understand what was required of them in order to progress to Category B status. Some were even unaware whether and when their reviews were taking place, leading to feelings of helplessness and a lack of trust in the system.
The report made several recommendations:
- Greater clarity and communication about the role of Category A Clerks (CAC), who are ultimately responsible for compiling the reports which are used to assess the progress of Category A prisoners.
- Greater range of attendance at review meetings, especially by residential officers, key workers and CAC, resulting in fairer and more transparent decisions
- Greater transparency around the decision-making processes, ensuring that decisions are relayed to prisoners in clear and specific language
- A more holistic approach, with review panels considering the full range of evidence presented and ensuring that applicants received credit for their efforts to reduce risk and demonstrate positive change.
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