The Conservative peer Lord Farmer emphasizes the importance of family visits in prisons as a means to reduce crime and rates of reoffending. According to him, prisoners who receive family visits are 39 percent less likely to reoffend, and education and employment also contribute to a 10 percent reduction in reoffending. He stated that these measures are crucial in the government’s duty to both punish and rehabilitate prisoners.
Lord Farmer argued that policies such as extending sentences are not effective in reducing crime and did not constitute being “hard on crime”. He pointed out that “competition between the parties as to who can be hardest on crime” has not resulted in a decrease in crime rates. Emphasizing the need for the government to fulfill its duty of care, he highlighted how strengthening the relationship between prisoners and their families through visits is an effective way to reduce reoffending.
The Conservative peer contrasted data showing that prisoners’ reoffending rate is 43 percent with another statistic highlighting the 60 percent chance children have of ending up in prison themselves if they have a parent who was once incarcerated. He talked about the importance of culture and traditional family setups in creating a more stable and healthier society. Lord Farmer suggested that society should shift back towards promoting stable, committed, and good relationships as a way to reduce crime and improve mental health. He also stated that a child is more likely to face child protection issues and other problems if they do not live with both biological parents.