Grendon scrutiny visit 2021
Report for Grendon Prison
Summary
Although Grendon was not able to offer the structured therapy that formed the core of its offending behaviour work, other essential sentence management work, such as parole assessments and recategorisation reviews, had continued throughout the period of restrictions. Leaders and staff at Grendon had responded well to the operational challenges presented by the pandemic and the prison remained a safe and respectful environment. However, while the prisoner therapeutic communities had weathered the necessary restrictions reasonably well, some outcomes were beginning to deteriorate. The longer the restrictions persist, the more the therapeutic culture will be at risk and the longer it will take Grendon to recover. It is important for HMPPS to support the governor and staff to implement a full recovery plan as soon as is practicable to enable a safe return to being a successful therapeutic community, particularly after the successful roll-out of the vaccine in the prison. Charlie Taylor HM Chief Inspector of Prisons March 2021 4 Report on a scrutiny visit to HMP Grendon