Prison Crisis: The Chief Inspector of Probation, Martin Jones CBE Speaks
Today we publish our new episode which features an exclusive interview with Martin Jones CBE, who was appointed His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Probation in March 2024. Prior to that, he was Chief Executive of the Parole Board from 2015.
Sam met Martin at the MOJ building, 102 Petty France, Westminster in July 2024 to discuss the IPP Scandal in the shadow of the looming prison crisis.
🎙️Listen to the full interview with Martin Jones
📸 Melissa FitzGerald
We decided to share our interview with Martin with the Independent, as it can sometimes take a month or two before we can release an episode as we try to include a variety of voices. We are releasing the interview we did with Martin to give context to the front page article that the Independent, led by crime correspondent, Amy Claire-Martin published late Saturday night.
It had been a big week for criminal justice: the new Justice Minister, Shabana Mahmood had just announced she was dealing with the crisis by allowing the early release of prisoners on standard determinate sentences after serving 40% of their sentences in custody. However, Martin tells Sam that 97% of probation areas are falling short of expectations, an extraordinary figure which starkly highlights a system that is not only in crisis, but has spectacularly failed.
Martin’s message to the new government is that they need to invest in an already struggling probation service. The system is broken everywhere and there are no quick fixes.
“I think I could probably be pretty confident in saying that we’re not going to have a thousand new probation officers in post by the autumn; I think they’ll be coming along in due course, maybe by the time you get into the spring of next year…”
Mr Jones also told us that he hoped the new government will “look again” at IPP sentences, which are “hugely costly, hugely burdensome for the system”.
You can listen to the full interview with Martin Jones via this link;
Prison Crisis: The Chief Inspector of Probation, Martin Jones CBE Speaks
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Contributors in order of appearance:
Martin Jones CBE, HM Chief Inspector of Probation @jones_martinw
Voices in Archive:
Shabana Mahmood, Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor
Credits:
Reporter: Samantha Asumadu @SamanthaAsumadu
Executive Producer: Melissa FitzGerald @melissafitzg
Producer: Steve Langridge @SMLANGERS
Consultant: Hank Rossi
An Ear Worm Production for the Institute of Now