UK Announces Record Prison Expansion as Jails Near Capacity in Five Months

The UK is facing a severe prison overcrowding crisis, with men's prisons expected to run out of space by November 2024 as the inmate population rises by approximately 3,000 each year, equivalent to filling two large prisons annually. In response, the government has announced a £4.7 billion plan to build three new prisons, marking a record expansion aimed at addressing the capacity shortfall. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood highlighted systemic issues, including a breakdown in law and order and criticized previous administrations for failing to act, while also introducing measures to limit prisoner recalls to a 28-day period for certain sentences. The Ministry of Justice reported that the adult male prison estate operates at about 99% capacity, with early release measures providing only temporary relief. Similar overcrowding challenges are reported internationally, such as in Maharashtra, India, where jails operate at 149% capacity, prompting plans for nine new prisons and additional barracks to increase capacity by over 15,000 slots. In Ludhiana, India, a drug crackdown has exacerbated overcrowding in Central Jail, which holds over 4,300 inmates despite a 3,200 capacity, highlighting a global trend of rising incarceration rates stressing prison infrastructure.