Offenders: Men
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his department has conducted any research regarding why 96% of the prison population are male, and what measures are being considered to try and reduce the proportion of men offending.
Answered by Ministry of Justice
We know that men make up the majority of those who come into contact with the criminal justice system and are disproportionately represented among offenders committing the most serious crimes. As these offences are more likely to attract custodial sentences and longer periods in custody, men make up the overwhelming majority of the prison population.
We are committed to addressing the drivers of offending and reducing reoffending to protect the public and build safer communities. Our approach is guided by the evidence on what works to reduce reoffending, and we work with local services and partners across government to support offenders in custody and the community to secure employment and stable accommodation, access treatment for drug and alcohol misuse, and develop the skills and behaviours needed to move away from crime.
More broadly, the Government’s work to improve outcomes for men and boys across the country is continuing, including in areas such as education, employment, mental health and wellbeing. Supporting positive outcomes across these areas can help address some of the wider factors associated with offending and reoffending.
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