The table below sets out the performance measures as proposed in the 2016 White Paper and compares them to the measures used by HMPPS in its latest prison performance ratings. A number of the proposed measures, particularly in relation to reform and rehabilitation have not been implemented.
Table 2: Comparison of performance measured proposed in the 2016 White Paper and what was used in the 2018–19 Prison Performance Ratings
Performance Measures set out in the 2016 White Paper |
2018/2019 Prison Performance Tool |
Standard 1: public protection - The number of escapes from closed prisons - The rate of absconds from open prisons - The rate of prisoner compliance with release on temporary licence - The number of offences committed while on ROTL - Additional measures such as compliance with key parts of security processes, including searching, intelligence, control of prisoner movements and escorts. |
Security - Number of escapes from prison or prisoner escort - Absconds from open prison conditions – rate per 100,000 prisoner days - Security Audit |
Standard 2: safety and order - The rate of assaults on prison staff - The rate of assaults on prisoners - The rate of self-harm by prisoners - Additional measures of staff and prisoner perceptions of safety measured through a structured survey to better understand the culture and atmosphere in our prisons. - The rate of incidents of prison disorder (e.g. barricades). |
Safety - Positive Random Mandatory drug testing including new psychoactive substances - Months drug testing levels not met (sub measure) - Risk Management Audit Measuring the Quality of Prison Life - safety - Prisoner on prisoner assaults incidents – rate per 1,000 prisoners - Assaults on staff incidents – rate per 1,000 prisoners - Control and Restraint training/Minimising and Managing Physical Restraint training - Tornado commitment - Self-harm incidents – rate per 1,000 prisoners - HM Inspectorate of Prisons – safety |
Standard 3: reform - A measure to track ‘distance travelled’ by an offender in substance misuse via drug testing on entry and exit. - Average rate of positive drug tests - Number of medical appointments cancelled due to non-availability of prisoners. - Further measures of each prison’s work to improve prisoners’ health - A ‘distance travelled’ measure for prisoner mental health (working with NHS England, Public Health England and the Welsh Government). - Number of hours worked in industry. - Development of a measure of the quality of work opportunities offered by prisons. - Measure and publication of the time prisoners spend out of their cells, including time spent out of their cells engaging in purposeful activity. - Comparison between measures of attainment in English and maths on release with those at the start of custody - Number of qualifications, or other employment-focused courses and accreditation, completed by prisoners. - Measures that assess a prisoner’s progress against milestones in their individual learning plan. - A measure of the quality of prisoners’ family relationships. |
Respect - Measuring the Quality of Prison Life – decency - Audit of Living Conditions - Measuring the Quality of Prison Life – BME simplified - HM Inspectorate of Prisons – respect |
Purposeful Activity - Hours worked by prisoners in industry - HM Inspectorate of Prisons – purposeful activity |
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Organisational Effectiveness - Incident Reporting System – data quality audit - Incident Reporting System – assaults checks (sub measure) - Incident Reporting System – self-harm checks (sub measure) - Data Integrity (Governance & Operational Audit) - Foreign National Offender Referrals - Prison Operating within Budget - Staff sickness absence |
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Standard 4: preparing for life after prison - The rate of prisoners in employment on release compared to before they entered custody - The rate of prisoners in suitable accommodation on release, compared to before they entered custody - The rate of prisoners in full or part-time education after release compared to reception into custody |
Rehabilitation and Release Planning - Accredited programme completions - Release on Temporary Licence – % successful releases - HM Inspectorate of Prisons – rehabilitation and release planning |
Source: Ministry of Justice, Prison Safety and Reform, Cm 9350, November 2016; Ministry of Justice, Annual Prison Performance Ratings 2018–19, 25 July 2019.
Published: 31 October 2019