In the latest outbreak of Covid-19 to hit UK prisons, 90 staff and over 100 inmates have tested positive in Strangeways prison, Manchester. The outbreak comes amid others in Birmingham, Peterborough, and Warrington, where two inmates died this week.
Despite this swathe of infections, the case numbers in prisons are still below the forecast figures at the beginning of the pandemic, which exceeded 77,000 potential infections.
However, for prisoners, this has come at a heavy cost.
Research from The Prison Reform Trust shows that, since March 2020, prisoners have spent more than 23 hours locked in their cell, in conditions akin to solitary confinement.
This, as well as the suspension of family visits, has placed an immense strain on prisoners and their loved ones.
“With Covid-19, added restrictions felt like a double punishment for prisoners. It was brought into prisons through no fault of their own, yet they suffered for it,” said Faith, a criminologist and expert in criminal justice reform.
“It’s inconceivable to think people with already fragile mental health would not be adversely affected,” she added, “especially without seeing their families, which is often a lifeline”.
“Inhumane” Conditions
Lucy, whose partner has been in prison throughout lockdown, said the stress of separation is increasingly difficult.
“He’s terrified our kids are going to forget him. It’s been nearly a year since they’ve seen him now, and a ten-minute phone call a week doesn’t cut it,” she said.
Four out of five prison blocks do not have in-cell toilet or washing facilities, meaning hygiene has been limited, with some only allowed to shower once every 8 days.
Prisoners have been eating, sleeping, and defecating in their cells – which have an average size of 3m by 2m – for almost a year.
Kerry’s husband is currently serving his eighth year in prison. She says prison conditions during lockdown are “inhumane”.
“There’s no heating in his cell, so he’s freezing. He asked to see a doctor 5 months ago, and nothing. His glasses are broken so he can hardly see, but he’s not allowed to get them fixed,” she explained.
“I worry about him constantly, but there’s no way for me to even see him.”
Missed opportunities for rehabilitation
Lack of PPE, staff furlough, and years of funding cuts mean that prisoners haven’t had access to the resources they usually do.
“Where usually prison allows for some type of rehabilitation – through educational activities or therapy – all this has now been taken away from prisoners”, Faith said.
Lucy said the removal of resources such as the library, gym, and educational classes, has caused a tangible change in her partner: “Every time I speak to him he just feels hopeless. Prison is hard enough, but now he can’t see the point anymore”.
“It’s like the light has gone out of him completely.”
Apart from the immediate negative effect on prisoners’ mental health, many worry that the consequences of extended lockdown could be long-term.
“It’s not as simple as just leaving prison and getting back to normal life,” Kerry said, “they’re going through a traumatic situation, and that can’t be forgotten overnight.”
Despite the government’s promise of an ‘Early Release Scheme’ last April, only 300 of the 4,000 eligible were released. The scheme has since been suspended. Many have had their sentences extended because of the pandemic, with no firm date given for release.
For those who were released, communication was scarce. One ex-prisoner explained that, before his release last June, he was unable to contact furloughed probation staff to ask about plans for his living situation after his release.
The man subsequently became homeless.
A spokesperson for HM Prison & Probation Service said, “given the impact of restrictions on day to day life, we have made prisoners’ wellbeing a priority.”
However, with Covid deaths in prison on the rise, and the number of infections increasing drastically over the past few months, many feel the government’s efforts are not enough.
“At first it was okay, because I felt my partner was safe, but now I fear for his health, both mental and physical,” said Lucy.
“It feels like they’ve been left to rot.”