'Reviewed purpose' for prison after Norway visit

La Moye has a capacity for up to 200 prisoners, but houses an average of 140

A governor reviewed her approach to rehabilitation at Jersey's only prison after a trip to learn from a Norwegian prison, a progress report has said.

Prisoners in HMP La Moye now have access to a bike workshop, a barista course and a barbering workshop, plus classes to learn the Jerrais language after work by Susie Richardson.

The States of Jersey Prison Service report also outlined improvements to staffing and management structures and plans for future modernisation costing £30m.

It detailed how a trip to Bergen's prison inspired the then governor to review the prison's purpose, moving away from a "model of incarceration" to a model of "safe custody, rehabilitation and resettlement".

Former governor Susie Richardson was said to have provided strong leadership

Described as "small but complex", Jersey's prison houses men and women of all security categories, serving both the island's magistrate's and Royal courts.

It has a capacity for up to 200 prisoners, but housed an average of 140, the government said.

The report, presented by the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, said the trip to Norway in April 2022 allowed staff to "learn from one of the most successful countries in the world, around rehabilitation".

Its new mission statement was about "releasing better neighbours", to provide "an evidence-based rehabilitative environment" to ensure prisoners can "lead useful lives in custody and on release", the report said.

Susie Richardson, who became prison governor in April 2021 - but has since stepped down - was said to have a background in forensic psychology and rehabilitation, "strong leadership" style and a focus to provide "greater openness and transparency" within the prison and community.

The report also highlighted "significant work" had gone into recruitment, staff retention and development of staff, with a "significant shift" in offender management, while also making a £500,000 budget saving in 2022.

The same year saw an Independent Prison Monitoring Board (IPMB) and monthly staff meetings established, as well as prisoners being given work as orderlies, with one female prisoner employed as an engineer on release.

'Improve focus'

In 2023, social media was introduced for "transparency and improved communication".

Prisoners were also given the opportunity to learn Jèrriais, while residential units were renamed from alpha-numeric titles to "local war heroes, as researched by prisoners".

Structural changes were also highlighted in the report, with the modernisation and conversion of existing buildings to "improve the availability of education and employment".

A long-term development plan was also mentioned, including the "demolition of several original buildings" dating back to the 1970s, and a provision of facilities to "improve focus on reducing reoffending".

It said more than £10m had already been spent on modernisation works, while there were plans to invest a further £30m.