UK Ministry of Justice

Prison Leavers Substance Misuse Treatment 4-Week Outcomes

The Ministry of Justice and Office for Health Improvement and Disparities announced on 25 March 2026 the upcoming release of linked justice and health data analysing 4-week treatment outcomes for prison leavers in England receiving drug and alcohol treatment. The statistics will be released on 23 April 2026 at 9:30am. This is a pre-release statistical announcement providing notice of forthcoming data; it does not create any compliance obligations.

Prison System Digitalisation: £82M Package to Reduce Release Errors via Justice ID

The UK Ministry of Justice announced a £82 million package to digitise the prison system and reduce prisoner release errors. A new Justice ID system will create a single digital identity with biometric verification for every person entering the prison system. Up to £20 million will be allocated this financial year to digitise manual sentence calculation processes, and £8 million will fund 165 additional specialist court staff. The measures respond to an independent review by Dame Lynne Owens finding systemic failures in the current paper-based system.

Response to Independent Review into Releases in Error

The UK Ministry of Justice has published its formal response to Dame Lynne Owens' Independent Review into Releases in Error, which examined the mistaken release of Mr Hadush Kebatu from HMP Chelmsford. The government accepts all recommendations in principle and commits up to £82 million of investment over the Spending Review period to reduce release errors. The response is underpinned by three themes: improving victim communication, modernising systems through digitisation and AI, and simplifying court and prison processes.

Releases in Error, England and Wales, Apr 2025–Mar 2026

The Ministry of Justice published transparency data on releases in error in England and Wales covering 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. The accompanying PDF contains 3 pages of data on prisoners released in error during the fiscal year. This is an ad hoc transparency publication providing statistical information to the public.

HMPPS Information Management Policy Framework

The Ministry of Justice and HM Prison and Probation Service published the HMPPS Information Management Policy Framework, establishing principles and responsibilities for managing HMPPS information. The policy applies to all HMPPS staff, contractors, agency staff, and third-party suppliers who handle HMPPS information. It outlines legal obligations including the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Environmental Information Regulations 2004, Data Protection Act 2018, UK General Data Protection Regulations, and Public Records Act 1958.

Probation Professional Register Policy Framework

The UK Ministry of Justice and HM Prison and Probation Service have updated the Probation Professional Register policy framework. The guidance sets out professional registration requirements, standards, and mandatory provisions for loss of authority to practice for probation qualified staff in England and Wales. Staff in roles requiring the probation officer qualification must maintain and renew their registration, with this framework superseding Probation Instruction 31/2014.