Long term prisoners get earlier student loans

A report has suggested that long term prisoners should be entitled to take out ealier student loans. At present prisoners can only apply for student loans when they are within six years of their release. 

 

Regardless of whether the loans are repaid or not the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) and the Open University say there would be a long-term saving for the taxpayer. 

 

"Participating in higher-level study offers recognised benefits both for the student and the prison and has been proven to reduce reoffending," the report suggests. It further comments, "Allowing prisoners to commence their studies earlier in a long sentence could increase student numbers by about 200 per year."

 

The argument suggests that the costs of the student loans would be approximately £2 million, but that could result in savings of between £3-6 million courtesy of reduced reoffending rates.

 

The deputy director of education, Ian Bickers, at Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service, commented that, "Removing the six-year rule would allow students to start their study earlier in their prison sentence. and allow those who want to progress their studies beyond undergraduate degree level to do so while still in custody, with the potential to open wider opportunities".

 

At present it has been reported that the Department for Education has no plans to change the policy.

 

The Johnson Partnership

Derby Crime Solicitors