LIFE SENTENCED PRISONERS AT HMP RYE HILL
HMP Rye Hill is a Category B Training Prison for male prisoners aged
over 21 years. The Prison holds a maximum of 660 prisoners, 20% of
whom are serving a life sentence.
The Prisons Lifer Department abide by the recommendations of
HM Inspectorate of Prisons and Probation Office in that our
aim when dealing with Lifers is to ensure the timely transfer
of life sentenced prisoners through the prison system so they
can achieve release within the time scale of their tariffs,
having challenged their offending behaviour and satisfied the
Parole Board of their suitability for release.
HMP Rye Hill's Lifer department consists of a Lifer Manager,
Lifer Liaison Officer and Lifer Clerk. Working alongside this
dedicated group are trained personal officers, seconded probation
staff and psychology department who provide the necessary specialist
assistance required when working with prisoners.
The offending behaviour and risks associated with life sentenced
prisoners are routinely monitored after being initially assessed,
in the annual reviews of their Life Sentence Plans. These are
supplemented by Follow-up Reports and Parole Board Reports that
allow us the opportunity to recommend progressive moves to the
Prison Service.
The HMP Rye Hill Resettlement Team, seconded probation and psychology
run a series of accredited and non-accredited courses that are
based on established effectiveness criteria, and aimed at the
needs of particular groups of Lifers.
The prison and its Lifer Department have a strong belief in
maintaining the family unit whilst working with Lifers. By providing
the facilities for visits, and by offering family meals and
family days this ensures the prisoners maintain this important
bond and benefit from the support offered by their family.
As well as the courses HMP Rye Hill offers all prisoners the
opportunity to take part in work, vocational training and education,
providing a better basis for job finding on release.
Finally, it is hoped that with the increased joint work and a common
approach and with the provision of offence related programmes, trained
staff will be able to monitor and evaluate the work carried out with
Lifers. This will result in achieving stability and hope in the lives
of people serving Life Sentences, not only during their time with
us but also after release. |
