In 2023/24, the average cost of a prison place in England and Wales was ****** British pounds a year, compared with ****** British pounds in the previous reporting year.

The United Kingdom spent approximately 7.41 billion British pounds on its prison system in 2024/25, an increase when compared to the previous year. Between 2011/12 and 2019/20, the UK consistently spent less than it did in 2010/11, mainly due to the austerity policies pursued by the coalition Government of the time. Throughout this time period, expenditure on prisons was lowest in 2014/15 at 3.83 billion pounds and highest in the most recent financial year. Prisoners and prison costs The prisoner population of the United Kingdom was around 97,800 in 2024. Although this was quite a high figure in historical terms, the incarceration rate in England and Wales, and Scotland has fallen slightly since 2008, although it has increased slightly in Northern Ireland. There is, however, evidence that the government is struggling to cope with the size of the prison population. The number of spare prison places in England and Wales fell to a low of just 768 in September 2023. The average cost of a prison place has also increased, rising from 35,182 pounds in 2015/16, to 56,987 in 2023/24. Steep rise in prison violence in the mid-2010s In 2018, there were almost 33,000 assault incidents in England and Wales, with the annual number of assaults increasing rapidly from 2013 onwards. There has also been a rise in self-harm incidents at prisons, with over 79,000 occurring in 2024, compared with only 19,000 twenty-years earlier. The peak for the number of deaths in prison custody was in 2021, when there were 371, or around 4,7 deaths per 1,000 prisoners. Of these deaths, 89 of those in 2021 were recorded as suicides, with the most suicides occurring in 2016, at 124.

In 2024, there were 87,869 men and 3,635 women in prisons in England and Wales. Compared with the previous year, this represented an increase for both men and women. This represented a peak in the number of prisoners during this provided time period, and was also the peak for the United Kingdom as a whole.
Demographics of prisoners There were 29,339 prisoners in their 30s in England and Wales in 2024, the most of any age group. In this year, there were also 3,354 prisoners who were aged between 15 and 20, with a further 21,381 prisoners who were in their 20s. In terms of the ethnicity of prisoners in England and Wales, 63,103 people in jail were White, 10,624 were Black, and 7,067were Asian. As of the same year, the most common religious faith of prisoners was Christianity, at 39,068 inmates, followed by 27,122 who identified as having no religion, with a further 15,909 who were Muslims. Increase in prison officers since 2017 The 23,614 prison officers working in England and Wales in 2024 was almost as high as 2011 when there were 24,369 officers. From 2010 onwards, the number of prison officers fell from 24,830 to 18,251 by 2014, and stayed at comparably low levels until 2018. Low government expenditure on Prisons during the same time period suggests this was a result of the austerity policies implemented by the UK government at that time. The government has steadily increased spending on prisons since 2019/20, with spending on prisons reaching 6.09 billion in 2022/23. This has however not been enough to avert a possible overcrowding crisis in England and Wales, which had just 768 spare prison places in September 2023.

This statistic shows the rate of female individuals self-harming among prisoners per 1,000 prisoners in custody in England and Wales from 2009 to 2019. According to the statistic, the rate has stayed relatively consistent during that time, with the highest rate of females self-harming in 2006 at * individuals per 1,000 prisoners.

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Prison Management Systems Market Size 2025-2029

The prison management systems market size is forecast to increase by USD 412.2 billion, at a CAGR of 5.8% between 2024 and 2029.

Prison management systems have witnessed significant growth in recent years, driven by key trends such as innovative upgrades to software and increasing government expenditure on public safety. These systems help manage various aspects of prison operations, including inmate records, security, and rehabilitation programs. However, the high implementation and maintenance costs remain a challenge for the market. The adoption of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and biometric identification is expected to enhance the functionality and efficiency of prison management systems. Additionally, the growing focus on reducing recidivism rates and improving prison conditions will further fuel market growth. Despite these opportunities, the high initial investment and ongoing expenses associated with implementing and maintaining these systems may hinder market expansion.

What will be the size of the Market During the Forecast Period?

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Prison management systems have become an essential component of correctional facilities worldwide. These systems facilitate effective inmate management, ensuring the safety and security of staff and inmates. Key functionalities include inmate information management, tracking, and scheduling for visitation, medical records, and incident reporting. Security is a top priority in prison management, with biometric systems playing a significant role. Fingerprint scans or facial recognition technology help maintain accurate records of prisoners, enhancing security and reducing the risk of escapes. Biometric identification also streamlines staff management, ensuring only authorized personnel access restricted areas. Financial management is another crucial aspect of prison management systems.
These solutions enable efficient tracking of commissary sales, inmate funds, and other financial transactions. Analysis and reporting features provide valuable insights into prison operations, enabling prison authorities to make data-driven decisions. Communication is essential for maintaining order and safety within correctional facilities. Prison management systems offer features like instant messaging and email services, allowing staff to coordinate effectively and respond promptly to inmate requests or emergencies. CCTV cameras and software solutions further bolster security by providing real-time monitoring and recording capabilities. Medical facility management and case management modules ensure that inmates receive proper care and attention, while incident reporting features help prison authorities maintain records of disciplinary actions and rehabilitation programs.

How is this market segmented and which is the largest segment?

The market research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD million' for the period 2025-2029, as well as historical data from 2019-2023 for the following segments.

Deployment

  On-premises
  Cloud-based


Component

  Solution
  Services


Geography

  North America

    Canada
    US


  Europe

    Germany
    UK
    France


  APAC

    China
    India


  Middle East and Africa



  South America

    Brazil

By Deployment Insights

The on-premises segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.

In the market, on-premises deployment is an option where organizations purchase and install the software on their servers. IT specialists manage and maintain it within the organization. However, the market share for this segment is projected to decrease due to the high cost of implementation and limited scalability. On-premises systems are typically priced under a one-time perpetual license fee, which includes recurring charges for support, training, and updates. Prisons also bear additional expenses for monitoring, maintenance, upgrades, and end-user training. companies offer installation, data migration, and employee training services during implementation. Key features of on-premises prison management systems include visitation scheduling, medical records management, incident reporting, commissary management, safety and security, suicide prevention, advanced security equipment, smart locks, video surveillance, intrusion detection, alarms & notifications, and prisoner information management with biometric details.

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The on-premises segment was valued at USD 626.60 million in 2019 and showed a gradual increase during the forecast period.

Regional Analysis

North America is estimated to contribute 36% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period.

Technavio's analysts ha

Analysis of the risk of suicide and drug-related deaths among prisoners, including the number of deaths, standarised mortality ratios and age-standardised rates, England and Wales, 2008 to 2019.

This is qualitative data from a focus group conducted in September 2020 within a study that examined how the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (seek to) effect change in prisons following prisoner suicides and how death investigations could have more impact on prison policy and practice. The study ran from 2019-2021.

Within this project, a focus group was conducted with former prisoners in England and Wales (n=5):

Across jurisdictions, prisoner suicide rates consistently exceed those amongst comparable groups in the general population (Zhong et al., 2021). Deaths in coercive institutions threaten the right to life, which is ‘the most fundamental of all human rights [and a] condition of the enjoyment of other rights’ (Owen and Macdonald, 2015: 121). The high rates of suicide and self-harm in prison are of international concern (Dear, 2006). Prison suicide reduction has been designated a priority activity by the World Health Organisation (2007) and England and Wales’ Ministry of Justice (2016). generating very significant harm and costs (Roulston et al., 2021; Author, 2021). Peer support is part of the (international) response to suicidal prisoners, but too little is known about the experience of these interventions.

For data storage and analysis purposes the transcript has been carefully anonymised with any potentially identifiable details removed. Within the transcript the 5 former prisoners have deliberately not been differentiated between to protect their identity. Because of the sensitivity of this research, transcripts of follow up support and analysis groups have been omitted due to the participants still being identifiable following transcript anonymisation.

Further information about the project and links to publications are available on the University of Nottingham SafeSoc project webpage https://www.safesoc.co.uk

In May 2019, Dutch courts refused to deport an English suspected drug smuggler, citing the potential for inhuman and degrading treatment at HMP Liverpool. This well publicised judgment illustrates the necessity of my FLF: reconceptualising prison regulation, for safer societies. It seeks to save lives and money, and reduce criminal reoffending.

Over 10.74 million people are imprisoned globally. The growing transnational significance of detention regulation was signalled by the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture/OPCAT. Its 89 signatories, including the UK, must regularly examine treatment and conditions. The quality of prison life affects criminal reoffending rates, so the consequences of unsafe prisons are absorbed by our societies. Prison regulation is more urgent than ever. England and Wales' prisons are now less safe than at any point in recorded history, containing almost 83,000 prisoners: virtually all of whom will be released at some point. In 2016, record prison suicides harmed prisoners, staff and bereaved families, draining ~£385 million from public funds. Record prisoner self-harm was seen in 2017, then again in 2018. Criminal reoffending costs £15 billion annually. Deteriorating prison safety poses a major moral, social, economic and public health threat, attracting growing recognition.

Reconceptualising prison regulation is a difficult multidisciplinary challenge. Regulation includes any activity seeking to steer events in prisons. Effective prison regulation demands academic innovation and sustained collaboration and implementation with practitioners from different sectors (e.g. public, voluntary), regulators, policymakers, and prisoners: from local to (trans)national levels. Citizen participation has become central to realising more democratic, sustainable public services but is not well integrated across theory-policy-practice. I will coproduce prison regulation with partners, including the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, voluntary organisations Safe Ground and the Prison Reform Trust, and (former) prisoners.

This FLF examines three diverse case study countries: England and Wales, Brazil and Canada, developing multinational implications. This approach is ambitious and risky, but critical for challenging commonsensical beliefs. Interviews, focus groups, observation and creative methodologies will be used. There are three aims, to: i) theorise the (potential) participatory roles of prisoners and the voluntary sector in prison regulation ii) appraise the (normative) relationships between multisectoral regulators (e.g. public, voluntary) from local to (trans)national scales iii) co-produce (with multisectoral regulators), pilot, document and disseminate models of participatory, effective and efficient prison regulation in England and Wales (and beyond) - integrating multisectoral, multiscalar penal overseers and prisoners into regulatory theory and practice.

This is an innovative study. Punishment scholars have paid limited attention to regulation. Participatory networks of (former) prisoners are a relatively new formation but rapidly growing in influence. Nobody has yet considered agencies like the Prisons Inspectorate and Ombudsman alongside voluntary sector organisations and participatory networks, nor their collective influences from local to transnational scales. Nobody has tried to work with all of these agencies to reconceptualise prison regulation and test it in practice.

Findings will be developed, disseminated and implemented internationally. The research team will present findings and engage with diverse stakeholders and decision makers through interactive workshops (Parliament, London, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham), and multimedia outputs (e.g. infographics). This FLF has implications for prisons and detention globally, and broader relevance as a case study of participatory regulation of public services and policy translation.

This statistic depicts the rate of self-inflicted male deaths during prison custody per 1,000 prisoners in England and Wales from 2010 to 2019. According to the source, * per 1,000 prisoners died due to self-inflicted causes in 2019.

This is qualitative data collection of semi-structured interviews conducted between June-July 2023, and online surveys conducted throughout 2022, within a study that examined how the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (seek to) effect change in prisons following prisoner suicides and how verbatim film can help to increase the impact of research findings. The study ran from 2021-2023.

Prisoner suicide rates are consistently higher than rates among communities living outside. Between 2012 and 2016, England and Wales’s prison suicide rates more than doubled, hitting record numbers in 2016. Often those most invested in prison safety are those personally impacted, and campaigns by prisoners’ families can have material effects. This project included a collaboration between an academic research team, a bereaved parent and a theatre company, which aimed to raise awareness of prison suicide through verbatim film and communicate key messages to stakeholders across criminal justice.

In May 2019, Dutch courts refused to deport an English suspected drug smuggler, citing the potential for inhuman and degrading treatment at HMP Liverpool. This well publicised judgment illustrates the necessity of my FLF: reconceptualising prison regulation, for safer societies. It seeks to save lives and money, and reduce criminal reoffending.
Over 10.74 million people are imprisoned globally. The growing transnational significance of detention regulation was signalled by the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture/OPCAT. Its 89 signatories, including the UK, must regularly examine treatment and conditions. The quality of prison life affects criminal reoffending rates, so the consequences of unsafe prisons are absorbed by our societies. Prison regulation is more urgent than ever. England and Wales' prisons are now less safe than at any point in recorded history, containing almost 83,000 prisoners: virtually all of whom will be released at some point. In 2016, record prison suicides harmed prisoners, staff and bereaved families, draining 385 million punds from public funds. Record prisoner self-harm was seen in 2017, then again in 2018. Criminal reoffending costs £15 billion annually. Deteriorating prison safety poses a major moral, social, economic and public health threat, attracting growing recognition.
Reconceptualising prison regulation is a difficult multidisciplinary challenge. Regulation includes any activity seeking to steer events in prisons. Effective prison regulation demands academic innovation and sustained collaboration and implementation with practitioners from different sectors (e.g. public, voluntary), regulators, policymakers, and prisoners: from local to (trans)national levels. Citizen participation has become central to realising more democratic, sustainable public services but is not well integrated across theory-policy-practice. I will coproduce prison regulation with partners, including the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, voluntary organisations Safe Ground and the Prison Reform Trust, and (former) prisoners. This FLF examines three diverse case study countries: England and Wales, Brazil and Canada, developing multinational implications. This approach is ambitious and risky, but critical for challenging commonsensical beliefs. Interviews, focus groups, observation and creative methodologies will be used. There are three aims, to:
i) theorise the (potential) participatory roles of prisoners and the voluntary sector in prison regulation
ii) appraise the (normative) relationships between multisectoral regulators (e.g. public, voluntary) from local to (trans)national scales
iii) co-produce (with multisectoral regulators), pilot, document and disseminate models of participatory, effective and efficient prison regulation in England and Wales (and beyond) - integrating multisectoral, multiscalar penal overseers and prisoners into regulatory theory and practice. This is an innovative study. Punishment scholars have paid limited attention to regulation. Participatory networks of (former) prisoners are a relatively new formation but rapidly growing in influence. Nobody has yet considered agencies like the Prisons Inspectorate and Ombudsman alongside voluntary sector organisations and participatory networks, nor their collective influences from local to transnational scales. Nobody has tried to work with all of these agencies to reconceptualise prison regulation and test it in practice.
Findings will be developed, disseminated and implemented internationally. The research team will present findings and engage with diverse stakeholders and decision makers through interactive workshops (Parliament, London, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham), and multimedia outputs (e.g. infographics). This FLF has implications for prisons and detention globally, and broader relevance as a case study of participatory regulation of public services and policy translation.

This statistic shows the rate of self-inflicted female deaths during prison custody per 1,000 prisoners in England and Wales from 2010 to 2019. Between 2015 and 2016 the source reported a significant rise in self-inflicted deaths, with more than * female prisoners per 1,000 prisoners having died due to self-inflicted causes.

In 2023/24 the average custodial sentence length for sexual offences in England and Wales was 69.5 months, or just over five years, the most of any broad offence type in that year. Other crimes that carried high prison sentences were robbery offences at 45.2 months, and drug offences at 41.4 months. The average length of a prison sentence for all offences in 2024 was 22.5 months, while the offences that carried the shortest sentence lengths were motoring offences. Court backlog a major concern The number of crown court cases awaiting trial in England and Wales reached a high of over 67,573 cases in late 2023, almost double the number of outstanding cases in 2019. Although the number of new crown court cases has actually been declining, the courts have struggled to keep pace by closing existing cases, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a consequence of these pressures, the amount of time between a criminal offence taking place and the conclusion of the case has also risen. In 2014, it took an average of 412 days for an offence to reach a conclusion in the courts, with this rising to 697 days by 2021. The UK prison system The prison population of the United Kingdom was estimated to number approximately 97,800 people, as of 2024, the vast majority of which were in England and Wales. In 2023/24, the average cost of a prison place in England and Wales was estimated at 56,987 British pounds, compared with 51,724 pounds in the previous financial year. Of the various prisons across UK jurisdictions, the largest one in terms of capacity was HMS Oakwood in the West Midlands, which had a prison population of 2,121 in 2025. Despite the construction of relatively new prisons such as Oakwood, prison overcrowding has increased recently. In September 2023, for example, there were just 768 spare prison places in England and Wales compared with almost 2,600 in April 2022.

In 2022/23, the proportion of all adult offenders who reoffended in England and Wales was 26 percent. Since 2008/09 the reoffending rate has fluctuated between a high of 31.6 percent in 2008/09 to a low of 24 percent in 2020/21.