Justice: Prisoners Release: Acquittals
Q:To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice pursuant to the answer of 30 April 2007, Official Report, column 1420W, on prisoners release: acquittals, in what cases remand prisoners are entitled to (a) travel warrants and (b) housing benefit and council tax benefit and mortgage interest for a limited time.
A:All prisoners who are released from prison custody are issued with a travel warrant to an agreed destination. Housing and council tax benefit and mortgage interest are available on release in all cases where prisoners meet the eligibility criteria to receive these benefits. If a remand prisoner is already in receipt of these benefits they continue to be payable for up to 52 weeks or until conviction. Gerry Sutcliffe (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Ministry of Justice)
Q:To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice pursuant to the answer of 30 April 2007, Official Report, column 1420W, on prisoners release: acquittals, in what cases remand prisoners are entitled to (a) travel warrants and (b) housing benefit and council tax benefit and mortgage interest for a limited time.
A:All prisoners who are released from prison custody are issued with a travel warrant to an agreed destination. Housing and council tax benefit and mortgage interest are available on release in all cases where prisoners meet the eligibility criteria to receive these benefits. If a remand prisoner is already in receipt of these benefits they continue to be payable for up to 52 weeks or until conviction. Gerry Sutcliffe (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Ministry of Justice)
Comments
On one hand you don't want to see them simply commit crime to get back into prison.
On the other hand it is important not to reward people for breaking the law.
Getting the balance between these two issues is complex and also relates to other issues within society.
For example it is currently the case that a released prisoner has either an equal or higher priority than someone coming out of the armed forces. That sends out the wrong message.