The Reform Prisons Pilot: Research Report on Lessons Learnt

This document describes an evaluation of a prison reform pilot program conducted by the UK Ministry of Justice, which aimed to increase the autonomy of prison governors over budgets, staff, and partnerships. The evaluation employed qualitative methods such as interviews, case studies, and surveys to assess the impact of the pilot on six prisons from July 2016 to December 2017. Results showed that the increased powers led to diverse outcomes, including financial savings, improved services, and better prison environments, but also highlighted challenges like staff reductions and communication issues. The evaluation concluded that while there were positive changes, more time is needed for significant transformational projects to be safely implemented. Additionally, the document evaluates a specific aspect of the reform focused on partnership working, which sought to enhance flexibility and strategic involvement with external providers. Despite initial enthusiasm, the reform faced skepticism over the actual level of autonomy and the pace of change. The evaluation suggests that while there is potential for service improvement and increased autonomy, the complexity of change requires ongoing support and clear communication, with seven learning points offered to guide future reforms. **This summary was written by an AI model and therefore should not be considered a definitive summary of the report. If you are aware of inaccuracies, please email evaluation.registry@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.**

Description

• Lead department: Ministry of Justice (MOJ)
• Evaluation stage: A complete evaluation report
• Other departments: No other departments listed
• Evaluation types: Process evaluation
• Process methods: Case studies; Individual interviews; Surveys and polling
• Grant information: This intervention is not distributing funding via a grant
• Government Major Project information: This intervention is not a major project
• Policies: No policies provided

Event Dates

• Event Name: Publication of final results
• Event date: July 2020

Evaluation Costs

• Cost: Not provided

Evaluation sharing

• Link(s) to published report(s): Yes
• Links to evaluation plans: No link provided
• Findings: Not provided
• Permission to share confirmed: Yes