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‘Everything is after sentencing’: The experiences of remand prisoners

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Everything is after sentencing (PDF, 885.1 KB)

A key findings paper by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, March 2026

What we found (Back to top)

Prisoners awaiting trial or sentencing have poorer outcomes than those serving a sentence, according to a findings paper from HMI Prisons. Despite making up around a fifth of the prison population, too few jails have developed a strategy to manage these men and women, increasing their vulnerability and leaving many unable to access vital support.

When prisoners are remanded from court they are held in reception prisons, which often have some of the poorest conditions in the estate. Although remand prisoners can report having higher rates of mental health problems and depression, and an increased risk of suicide, they often did not get enough support when they first arrived in jail.

Read the press release in full