Scott Dylan Warns of Dire Prison Conditions Undermining Rehabilitation

Scott Dylan a Prison Reform Advocate calls for urgent systemic reform and investment in the UK Prison System after MPs highlight overcrowding, crumbling prisons, and neglected rehabilitation programmes.

Prison reform advocate Scott Dylan today warned that "dire" conditions across British prisons are undermining rehabilitation and fuelling higher reoffending rates. His statement comes in response to a new House of Commons Justice Committee report which found that prison overcrowding, staffing shortages and decaying infrastructure are having a "profound impact on the ability of prisons to deliver rehabilitation". Dylan said the cross-party findings confirm that neglecting rehabilitation in favour of mere punishment is a dangerous and costly mistake.

According to the Committee's report, 80% of all crimes in England and Wales are now committed by repeat offenders - a "staggering" statistic Dylan calls unacceptable evidence of a failing system. Equally troubling, half of prisoners receive no education or work training during their sentences, missing crucial opportunities to turn their lives around. The advocate praised the Justice Committee for spotlighting these issues, noting that the report's key findings underscore a prison system in crisis and in urgent need of reform. Key issues highlighted in the report include:

• Overcrowding and excessive cell confinement: Many prisoners are locked in their cells 22 hours or more each day, with minimal access to fresh air, exercise, education or even a daily shower. Such conditions, driven by overcrowding and staff shortfalls, all but eliminate opportunities for rehabilitation, instead breeding frustration and poor mental health.

• Crumbling facilities and funding shortfalls: The prison estate is "in a state of disrepair", with some conditions so bad they may breach human rights laws. The report flagged a £1.8 billion maintenance backlog that leaves inmates living among broken facilities - from dilapidated wings to inoperable workshops - severely limiting access to classrooms, therapy spaces and other rehabilitative activities.

• Staffing crisis and unsafe culture: Chronic staff shortages, high turnover and insufficient training have created a prison culture that "hinders rehabilitation". Overstretched officers struggle to manage basic regimes, let alone support individual prisoners. The Committee warned the current staffing model is unsustainable, undermining safety and any chance of meaningful rehabilitation.

• Education and training cuts: Prison education budgets have been slashed by up to 50% in real terms, the report found, leaving classrooms under-resourced. As a result, three in four prisons recently inspected by Ofsted failed to provide adequate learning programmes. Low participation rates and lack of skills training in custody contribute directly to reoffending, yet these programmes remain poorly funded and delivered.

• Inadequate mental health care: Mental health support behind bars is inconsistent and woefully inadequate. Women in prison, many with complex trauma, aren't even getting basic healthcare support, the Committee noted. Such neglect not only harms individual rehabilitation prospects but also raises serious questions about the system's duty of care.

"This report shines a light on the bleak reality behind prison walls - and it's a reality that should alarm every one of us," said Scott Dylan, a longtime campaigner for prison reform and mental health. "We cannot build a safer society by warehousing people in squalid, inhumane conditions. When prisons are so overcrowded and under-resourced that inmates languish in cells nearly all day, with no training or therapy, we shouldn't be surprised when reoffending rates remain sky-high. Rehabilitation isn't a 'soft' option; it's a proven strategy to reduce crime - and right now, it's being dangerously undermined."

Dylan welcomed the Justice Committee's "frank and sobering" assessment, applauding the cross-party panel of MPs for prioritising rehabilitation over punishment. He noted that the Committee's recommendations - from fixing crumbling infrastructure to restoring education programmes - provide a roadmap the Government must not ignore. "I commend the Committee for its thorough work. They've shown that the prison crisis is a systemic failure, not a partisan issue, and they've given clear, evidence-based recommendations. Now Ministers need to act on them without delay," Dylan said.

The advocate emphasised that systemic reform and sustainable funding go hand in hand. Short-term fixes or tougher rhetoric will not solve a crisis rooted in years of underinvestment and policy neglect. "For too long, our prisons have been run in crisis mode, with corners cut and rehabilitation sidelined. It's a false economy - because every person who leaves prison without support, without skills or treatment, is far more likely to end up committing more crimes," Dylan argued.

"Instead of simply punishing people and hoping for the best, we need to invest in rehabilitation programmes, mental health care and re-entry support. That means proper funding for prison upgrades, staff training, education and partnerships with expert rehabilitation providers. Every pound spent on rehabilitation now is an investment in safer communities later."

In a collaborative tone, Dylan extended an offer to work with policymakers, prison officials, and charities to turn the report's recommendations into action. He stressed that many in the prison service are "doing the best they can in impossible conditions" and that frontline staff deserve support through better resources and training. "This is not about casting blame on prison staff - it's about fixing the system from the top down. Government must lead, but society at large must also shed the 'lock them up and forget them' mentality," he said.

Scott Dylan's call to action is clear: he urges the Justice Secretary and government ministers to deliver an emergency plan addressing the committee's findings, and to secure sustainable funding to modernise prisons and expand rehabilitation services. Specifically, Dylan is calling for an immediate commitment to reduce overcrowding (for example, by expanding community alternatives for low-risk offenders), a funded timetable to eliminate the maintenance backlog, and guarantees that every prisoner who wants to improve themselves - through work, education, or counselling - has the opportunity to do so.

He also encourages the public and media to keep up pressure for reform. "The public should not accept a failing prison system as normal or irreversible. We all have a stake in this - when rehabilitation fails, crime thrives. I urge people to speak up, support organisations helping ex-offenders, and ask your MPs what they're doing to make our justice system more effective," Dylan said. "If we truly believe in justice and public safety, we must fund and fix our prisons so they can focus on turning lives around, not just locking people up."

Scott Dylan
77 Sir John Rogerson's Quay
Grand Canal Dock,
Dublin 2, D02 VK60,
Republic Ireland

hello@scottdylan.com

Scott Dylan is a prison reform advocate focused on improving rehabilitation outcomes, reducing reoffending, and strengthening mental health support within the criminal justice system. His work centres on evidence-based reform, practical interventions, and collaboration between policymakers, charities, and community organisations.

He concentrates on key structural issues including access to education, digital skills training, psychological support, post-release employment pathways, and humane treatment standards in line with UK legal and human-rights obligations. His advocacy emphasises that effective rehabilitation benefits public safety, reduces long-term public spending, and gives people leaving custody a realistic chance at rebuilding stable lives.

Scott engages with frontline professionals, third-sector organisations, and criminal justice stakeholders to highlight systemic gaps and promote workable solutions. His projects often focus on bridging the divide between modern technology and outdated prison infrastructure, promoting initiatives that prepare individuals for life and employment in a digital economy.

Acting independently, Scott raises public awareness, contributes to policy discussions, and supports initiatives that aim to make rehabilitation central to the UK prison system rather than an afterthought. His advocacy reflects a commitment to fairness, accountability, and the belief that meaningful change requires long-term investment in people, not punitive cycles that fail communities.

This release was published on openPR.