Across the Pond: Comparing the U.K. & U.S. Prison Systems

The United Kingdom, America’s one time rival and longtime ally, bears some similarities to its former colony. Like many countries, including the United States, the UK has been grappling with its own justice and carceral system issues. 

Both the US and UK have faced significant criticism for their approach to criminal justice, with much of the focus on addressing inequalities and shortcomings within their respective systems.  Racial inequality and effective justice are critical issues in both countries. Similar to the US, the UK uses its prisons as a means of crime deterrence and prevention. Though an imperfect system, the UK places more of an emphasis on rehabilitation rather than exclusively on punishment. 

Prison Conditions

The US has long struggled with overcrowding in its prisons. Since the 1970s the US has seen its prison population spike by 500%, contributing to capacity constraints. This is exemplified at the state level. Alabama has the most pressing overcrowding concerns, operating at 175.7% of its planned design capacity. In contrast, Rhode Island has the fewest issues, with prisons operating at 68.3% of their capacity.

This issue was brought further to light during the Pandemic, with many incarcerated individuals contracting COVID-19 due to overcrowded conditions, although the 2020 CARES Act did attempt to reduce prison capacity by allowing older, nonviolent offenders to complete their sentences at home. However, in the years following the pandemic, some states have rolled back these allowances. 

The UK has the highest imprisonment and recidivism rate in Western Europe. In England and Wales, as of July 2024, there were 87,500 individuals incarcerated, despite guidance indicating that a good standard of service can be maintained at a population of no more than 79,700. Other figures state that two-thirds of English and Welsh prisons are overcrowded. There has been a sharp increase in those punished for crimes committed since the mid 1990s, despite a steady decrease in overall crime rates since then, which has led to this issue of overcrowding. Living conditions have been compromised, as spaces ill-equipped to serve as living quarters have been retrofitted to address the overcrowding. Pandemic-era policies and increasingly punitive measures seem to be linked to the decrease in quality of UK prisons. To address this issue, current government policies aim to create 20,000 new prison placements. Prison reform advocates also call for less punitive measures to promote well-being and restorative justice. 

Nutrition & Healthcare

The majority of incarcerated individuals in the US have a chronic health condition, which is exacerbated by diets high in sugars, fats, and simple carbohydrates often seen in prison meals. Many in the carceral system suffer from mental health disorders like anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder, which are amplified by diets low in vitamin D, magnesium, and omega-3s, that are characteristic of prison food. Few people have access to fresh fruit and vegetables. There are no federal guidelines for informing US prison nutrition, but state prisons aim to follow local guidelines. The British prison nutrition system fares similarly to its American counterpart, despite national prison nutrition guidelines. Incarcerated individuals in the UK are accustomed to food high in carbs, low in nutrition, and often consumed in isolation. All of which have poor effects on mental and physical health. However, UK charity Food Behind Bars aims to change the ways food is prepared, managed, and served in prisons by involving those imprisoned in the preparation of the meal. 

Hygiene products in US prisons must be purchased with the minimal funds incarcerated individuals make for working while incarcerated, though many are unable to afford the products. UK prisons are required to provide free hygiene products and toiletries, but there have been reports of people being refused access to these necessities.

Similar to hygiene products, incarcerated individuals in many US states must pay to see a physician. The costs can be $3 or more, which is difficult to achieve given that for many wages are $0.75 per day. Many are denied care and face barriers, as permission must be granted by correctional officers. In the UK, According to the government, healthcare in prisons operates on a system of equivalence, meaning that standards of care for the imprisoned should be the same as those who are not incarcerated. However, these guidelines are not always achieved in practice. Funding for the National Health Service (NHS) has been reduced over the past decade, leading to a decreased offering of public health services and staff. Revamping funding for the NHS may help to improve healthcare in prisons. The issue of understaffing persists as 75% of missed appointments in UK prisons are due to a lack of prison staff. 

Education & Training

Each UK prison has an education department. Those imprisoned may have the option to choose from courses specializing in numeracy, literacy, English lessons, art, and business. Vocational courses may also be available. Incarcerated individuals can also study higher level academic courses, known as A-levels, which are similar to AP classes in the US. They can access higher level vocations with Advanced Learner Loans, allowing them to take courses at an approved institution. One may also study at a college or university via courses with the Open University paid for through the use of loans or with a grant from the Prisoners’ Education Trust. A number of charities support education payments as well. However, the quality and availability of these programs are variable. Prison reform advocates promote education in the UK as a means to reduce risk of reoffending. 

In the US, certain states provide educational programs for incarcerated individuals. Some universities offer tailored programs in correctional facilities. City University of New York’s (CUNY)  Prison-to-College Pipeline offers incarcerated individuals at a New York correctional facility the opportunity to pursue higher education and guarantees graduates a spot in a CUNY college program when they are released. The program supports academic growth through a variety of disciplines as well as career preparation and coaching. Boston College also administers a Prison Education Program, where students at a Massachusetts correctional facility can obtain an Applied Liberal Arts Bachelor's Degree. The program also provides guidance on career and rehabilitation following release. Additionally, a recent 2023 change to Pell Grant distribution allows for some incarcerated people to apply the grants toward their education for the first time since 1994. 

Impact of Race & Ethnicity

Racial equity should be an important priority for carceral reform in both countries. 

People of color and other incarcerated minorities in the UK report discrimination, as reflected in reduced access to jobs, education, healthcare, and status improvements, leaving some to feel jaded and demoralized. Further difficulties arise from the lack of diversity among staff, with individuals reporting they experience explicit or implicit racism or religious discrimination. However, some note that officers who are persons of color are actually harder on incarcerated minorities. Black/Black British individuals report more severe punishments when compared to other groups. Black/Black British men make up 13% of the UK’s prison population, but 41% of incidents of the use of  PAVA (a type of pepper spray) and 30% of PAVA uses were on Muslim individuals (despite accounting for only 17% of the prison population). Prison staffers report there is a lack of practical training, which can help minimize bias and increase understanding of these populations. 

The US has a long history of inequality in both its policing and carceral system. For many reasons, including economic disadvantages, segregation, and over-policing of Black and Hispanic neighborhoods, people of color are disproportionately represented in correctional facilities. While Black individuals account for 13% of the US population, they represent up to 37% of the prison population. Additionally, 48% of those serving life sentences are Black. They are also more likely to be placed in solitary confinement compared to the total prison population. This disparity extends to Native American communities as well, who are incarcerated at a rate of 763 per 100,000 people, which is more than double the national rate of 350 per 100,000.   

Rehabilitation, Punishment & the Possibility of Change

While punishing an individual for criminal behavior is necessary to maintain order and protect others, the overarching priority in the UK is rehabilitation. In fact, some incarcerated individuals are permitted to serve a portion of their sentence in the community. However, over the past decade prison sentences have become more severe and recidivism has increased. Advocacy groups note that as prison populations rise, rehabilitation has become more difficult, especially with high rates of employee turnover and limited staffing. Rehabilitation training for staff and skill building programs can help give incarcerated people the tools and healing for future success. Lessons taken from countries succeeding in this area can provide guidelines on how to effectively implement changes. In contrast, in the US a more punitive approach to incarceration remains prevalent, leading to relatively low rehabilitation rates and high levels of reoffending. Advocacy initiatives aim to reduce mass incarceration through bail reform and decreasing pre-trial detention, eliminating the use of jail for minor charges, and reducing excess supervision for low-risk individuals. However, as long as a more rehabilitative approach to incarceration remains a low priority, the carceral system in the US will continue to experience significant issues and a high rate of recidivism. 

More work needs to be done in both countries, and particularly in the US, to improve living conditions and implement programs that equip incarcerated people with the skills they need to successfully navigate reentry. A greater focus on rehabilitation increases the likelihood of successful reentry, enabling people to become contributing members of their communities, which can also help reduce recidivism.