Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Sarah Champion (Labour). It was answered by Lucy Frazer (Conservative) on Tuesday, 3 November 2020 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Sexual Offenders: Transfers to Open Prisons

Question: What risk assessments are conducted prior to the transfer of people convicted of sexual offences to open prisons.

Answer: Access to open prison conditions is not a right, and there is no automatic progression. It is based on a detailed risk assessment. To be considered for open conditions, an individual must generally have served two to three years and have that time left to serve to the earliest release. In addition, a thorough risk assessment must be completed, considering the likelihood of the individual absconding and the risks to the public, as well as whether they are overall suited to the open estate.

Secondary information