Petition · Ministry of Justice

Require prisoners with sufficient assets to pay the cost of their incarceration

Open for signatures 28 signatures

What the petition asks

We call on the UK Government to introduce legislation requiring prisoners with sufficient financial means to pay the cost of their incarceration through a fair, means-tested system, the same as paying for your care, should you need to, in later life.
This should operate in a similar way to existing arrangements under the Care Act 2014, where individuals with assets are required to contribute to the cost of their care. Contributions should apply where offenders have the ability to pay.
The cost of imprisonment places a substantial and growing burden on taxpayers. At a time of pressure on public finances, it is neither fair nor sustainable that individuals with significant assets can serve custodial sentences entirely at public expense.

Timeline

27 Aug 2026 Petition opened for signatures

Key facts

Signatures 28
Status Open for signatures
Department Ministry of Justice
Opened 27 Aug 2026

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 28 Aug 2026.