EDM: Literacy and the criminal justice system

Literacy and the criminal justice system

Tabled by Valerie Vaz (Labour) 24 signatures

The motion

That this House acknowledges the link between low literacy levels and crime rates; recognises the critical role of literacy enrichment programmes in the rehabilitation and wellbeing of people in prison; notes the National Literacy Trust’s work since 2012 in delivering reading and writing initiatives across 100 prisons and Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) in the UK; commends programmes such as Books Unlocked, New Chapters, Readconnect and Inside Stories with Audible for their proven impact on participants’ confidence, wellbeing and educational aspirations; expresses concern at recent inspections which found only four out of 42 prisons and YOIs to be offering education, work or skills at a reasonable standard; further notes the crisis in prison education, with libraries often closed and limited access to purposeful activity; believes there should be a wide range of training opportunities at all levels available to the prison population; further recognises that third sector organisations, such as the National Literacy Trust, provide vital services that reach individuals disengaged from formal education; and calls on the Government to provide national, sustained investment in literacy enrichment in prisons as part of a strategy to reduce reoffending, strengthen family connections, boost social cohesion, make communities safer and ensure that prison leavers receive the enrichment opportunities they need to thrive.

Signatories (24)