Offenders ‘not properly risk-assessed’ before release

Some of the most dangerous prisoners in England and Wales are not being properly risk-assessed before they are freed, a report has found.

Probation and prison inspectors said two-thirds of the plans they examined to manage the release of those serving life sentences were inadequate.

They were “shocked” by the “lack of clarity” and “confusion” over the assessments.

Right this story is unnerving for two reasons:

1. Someone somewhere thinks it’s a good idea for the most dangerous criminals, murders, rapists and violent repeat offenders, to be released and integrated back into society.

2. Those due for release weren’t being properly risk assessed.

I would imagine that if you need to be thoroughly assessed as to whether you should be released, chances are you probably shouldn’t be released.

The only problem is now that the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that life can’t mean life anymore, so the only thing the government can do is try and make it so as this system runs as smoothly as possible and then hope that those released under it don’t re-offend.

You might say what about the rehabilitation side, but chances are those that are murders, rapists and repeat violent offenders have very little chance of being properly rehabilitated and successfully re-integrated back into society.