Due to the rising prison population and the significant increase in elderly people in custody there are now believed to be a record number of disabled prisoners, although the Prison Service does not currently collect data on disability.

Disabled prisoners say that they are rarely given equal access to prison activities and some complain of poor treatment and discrimination. Lack of information on what facilities do exist in different prisons means they are not able to make informed choices.

The Prison Reform Trust’s advice and information service has received a significant number of letters from disabled prisoners and their families highlighting their experiences. These have ranged from a wheelchair bound prisoner being confined to his cell for 24 hours a day and being left sitting in his urine because of no facilities for him to bathe and a deaf prisoner missing out on exercise and education due to not hearing shouted instructions.

In addition to concerns raised, the Prison Reform Trust has also been contacted by those who have received help, including the mother of a blind prisoner commending a local prison on the tremendous efforts it had made to respond to the needs of her blind son.

Although exempt from many pieces of legislation, the Prison Service has issued guidelines on the management of disabled prisoners and many prisons have developed strategies, led by a disability liaison officer, to encourage equal participation for disabled prisoners. And in response to a report, ‘Growing Old in Prison’, by the Prison Reform Trust, Dr Stephen Ladyman, Minister for Health, agreed to develop a health policy for older prisoners. However, provision is still patchy and there is no ring-fenced funding to alter and modify buildings. Overall there remains a gap between policy and practice. 

The Information book, launched today at Wandsworth Prison in London, is intended to improve provision and support for disabled prisoners. It will provide them with:

* Information on their rights and benefits

* Details of how to keep in touch with family and friends

* Information on helpful organisations and support

* General help and advice

An audio tape of the booklet has also been produced by the RNIB, and a poster has been printed to alert prisoners and staff to the booklet and tape which will be distributed by the Prison Service.

Speaking today Jenny Parry, the author of the booklet said:

“When I visited prisons around the country to carry out my research on the information needs of disabled prisoners, I was struck by both the number of disabled prisoners and the range of disabilities they presented.  Support for them was patchy.  In some prisons their needs were ignored whereas in others enthusiastic disability liaison officers worked hard to improve regimes for these prisoners and provide decent and appropriate facilities despite old buildings and inadequate resources.

This booklet will hopefully go some way to addressing their needs”.

The Director of the Prison Reform Trust, Juliet Lyon, added:

 “The Prison Service is working to comply with the requirements of the  
Disability Discrimination Act but it has a long way to go before imprisonment is not experienced as a double punishment by people with disabilities.”