Cassia Rowland
@cassiarowland.bsky.social
Senior researcher in public services @Instituteforgov, passionate about crime. Formerly @CrestAdvisory. Also trustee @EndometriosisUK
Another week, another mistaken prisoner release! Almost like this is a systemic problem www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/pris...
November 5, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Another week, another mistaken prisoner release! Almost like this is a systemic problem www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/pris...
But there's no alternative: the government *has* to keep going with these measures or rapidly run out of the few prison spaces we've got. Indeed, they have to go further, as they are with the Sentencing Bill - and even then it will be touch-and-go if there's enough capacity:
October 28, 2025 at 4:18 PM
But there's no alternative: the government *has* to keep going with these measures or rapidly run out of the few prison spaces we've got. Indeed, they have to go further, as they are with the Sentencing Bill - and even then it will be touch-and-go if there's enough capacity:
It's little wonder release errors have shot up. But the sentencing system has also become much more convoluted. Until 2020, nearly all prisoners served half their sentence in prison, half on probation. Now, some serve 40%, some 50%, others 66%; others must apply to be released at these points.
October 28, 2025 at 4:13 PM
It's little wonder release errors have shot up. But the sentencing system has also become much more convoluted. Until 2020, nearly all prisoners served half their sentence in prison, half on probation. Now, some serve 40%, some 50%, others 66%; others must apply to be released at these points.
I spoke to BBC Verify this afternoon about the state of our prison system and how the mistaken release of Hadush Kebatu, the former asylum seeker convicted of sexual assault in Essex over the summer, might have happened
October 27, 2025 at 4:20 PM
I spoke to BBC Verify this afternoon about the state of our prison system and how the mistaken release of Hadush Kebatu, the former asylum seeker convicted of sexual assault in Essex over the summer, might have happened
3) Conditions in prisons are appalling & keep getting worse: sky-high violence & self-harm & little productive for prisoners to do. Improving things requires taking pressure off the system - but as it is, it will be touch-and-go if prisons can even avoid running out of space as they did last summer
October 23, 2025 at 7:07 AM
3) Conditions in prisons are appalling & keep getting worse: sky-high violence & self-harm & little productive for prisoners to do. Improving things requires taking pressure off the system - but as it is, it will be touch-and-go if prisons can even avoid running out of space as they did last summer
2) Productivity in the criminal courts has cratered. The impact of this is massive - if the crown court had got through as many trials per day in 2024 as in 2016, it would have done 5,000 more trials - *40%* - than it actually did! That is mad!
October 23, 2025 at 7:01 AM
2) Productivity in the criminal courts has cratered. The impact of this is massive - if the crown court had got through as many trials per day in 2024 as in 2016, it would have done 5,000 more trials - *40%* - than it actually did! That is mad!
There's a huge amount in there, so I'm spreading it out for you with a chart a day for the next few weeks! For now, 3 key messages. 1) Major problem in policing is officer inexperience. Police work is getting more complex with more domestic abuse & sexual violence and forces lack skills to handle it
October 23, 2025 at 6:58 AM
There's a huge amount in there, so I'm spreading it out for you with a chart a day for the next few weeks! For now, 3 key messages. 1) Major problem in policing is officer inexperience. Police work is getting more complex with more domestic abuse & sexual violence and forces lack skills to handle it
We hear a lot about public services being ‘on the brink’. But if you’ve been a victim of a serious crime, or accused of one, if you have a loved one in prison or work in the criminal courts, you know that the criminal justice system is already failing. And things are getting worse.
October 23, 2025 at 6:48 AM
We hear a lot about public services being ‘on the brink’. But if you’ve been a victim of a serious crime, or accused of one, if you have a loved one in prison or work in the criminal courts, you know that the criminal justice system is already failing. And things are getting worse.
This is absolute gold — and as ever brilliant work from Tristan
October 21, 2025 at 11:14 AM
This is absolute gold — and as ever brilliant work from Tristan
Delighted to be the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk nominee for Researcher of the Year at the @smartthinking.bsky.social think tank awards! Looking forward to entertaining all my fellow nominees with tales of public service performance at the award ceremony in November.
September 25, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Delighted to be the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk nominee for Researcher of the Year at the @smartthinking.bsky.social think tank awards! Looking forward to entertaining all my fellow nominees with tales of public service performance at the award ceremony in November.
Why is the gov doing this? Fundamentally because there aren't enough prison spaces - the capacity crisis is no longer in the headlines but it definitely hasn't gone away. Urgent action is needed to make sure prisons don't end up back in the desperate situation of last September w/ <100 places left.
September 16, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Why is the gov doing this? Fundamentally because there aren't enough prison spaces - the capacity crisis is no longer in the headlines but it definitely hasn't gone away. Urgent action is needed to make sure prisons don't end up back in the desperate situation of last September w/ <100 places left.
Explaining the day’s developments to a non-British friend:
September 5, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Explaining the day’s developments to a non-British friend:
In the courts, the problem is the ever-increasing case backlog. Sir Brian Leveson recently led a review proposing major reforms, including scrapping most jury trials - not something most politicians want their name next to in the history books.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/leve...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/leve...
September 5, 2025 at 4:35 PM
In the courts, the problem is the ever-increasing case backlog. Sir Brian Leveson recently led a review proposing major reforms, including scrapping most jury trials - not something most politicians want their name next to in the history books.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/leve...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/leve...
The biggest responsibilities of justice sec are criminal courts &prisons. These are both pretty much collapsing, literally and metaphorically. Prison population crisis has been temporarily staved off but not gone away. Violence is appalling and inspectorate reports are often frankly horrifying.
September 5, 2025 at 4:30 PM
The biggest responsibilities of justice sec are criminal courts &prisons. These are both pretty much collapsing, literally and metaphorically. Prison population crisis has been temporarily staved off but not gone away. Violence is appalling and inspectorate reports are often frankly horrifying.
Doesn’t it sound like they *did* provide tax advice, albeit with the caveat that they were not tax experts & might be wrong? In the context of a house purchase, that sounds exactly like what eg your surveyor says about every finding they make, though clearly Rayner should‘ve consulted an expert
September 5, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Doesn’t it sound like they *did* provide tax advice, albeit with the caveat that they were not tax experts & might be wrong? In the context of a house purchase, that sounds exactly like what eg your surveyor says about every finding they make, though clearly Rayner should‘ve consulted an expert
The Health Foundation do projections factoring in changing demographics, which we use for demand calcs. But NHS spending growth has consistently outstripped that measure of demand growth. Rising costs & lower productivity mean that’s not been enough to maintain performance (simplifying somewhat!)
August 31, 2025 at 10:48 AM
The Health Foundation do projections factoring in changing demographics, which we use for demand calcs. But NHS spending growth has consistently outstripped that measure of demand growth. Rising costs & lower productivity mean that’s not been enough to maintain performance (simplifying somewhat!)
But you pay the rate from whenever your gain is realised, don’t you? Previous years are relevant in terms of the tax-free allowance, but not the rate that you pay. That’s why gov’s always want to minimise speculation & implement CGT changes immediately, to prevent gains being realised early.
July 16, 2025 at 12:59 PM
But you pay the rate from whenever your gain is realised, don’t you? Previous years are relevant in terms of the tax-free allowance, but not the rate that you pay. That’s why gov’s always want to minimise speculation & implement CGT changes immediately, to prevent gains being realised early.
Instead, the fundamental problem is the growing productivity gap: we’re getting less out (in terms of trials/cases closed) for what we’re putting in (the number of days the court sits). If courts were working as efficiently in 2024 as in 2016, there would have been *40%* more trials.
July 11, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Instead, the fundamental problem is the growing productivity gap: we’re getting less out (in terms of trials/cases closed) for what we’re putting in (the number of days the court sits). If courts were working as efficiently in 2024 as in 2016, there would have been *40%* more trials.
Leveson argues that more complex criminal law & much more digital evidence means courts can’t keep up with the amount of demand. But while demand has grown recently, it’s not at historic highs. Avg trial takes a bit longer, but courts spent 23% *less* time total on jury trials in 2024 than in 2016!
July 11, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Leveson argues that more complex criminal law & much more digital evidence means courts can’t keep up with the amount of demand. But while demand has grown recently, it’s not at historic highs. Avg trial takes a bit longer, but courts spent 23% *less* time total on jury trials in 2024 than in 2016!
Cosplaying as Gen Z so I can show off my socks for the occasion
July 5, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Cosplaying as Gen Z so I can show off my socks for the occasion
An excellent question! Probably *not quite*. While clearly an opinion supportive of the organisation, the Met left out part of the definition for that: also requires you be “reckless as to whether a person to whom the expression is directed will be encouraged to support a proscribed organisation”.
July 5, 2025 at 11:59 AM
An excellent question! Probably *not quite*. While clearly an opinion supportive of the organisation, the Met left out part of the definition for that: also requires you be “reckless as to whether a person to whom the expression is directed will be encouraged to support a proscribed organisation”.
A little treat for a sunny Sunday afternoon
June 29, 2025 at 11:28 AM
A little treat for a sunny Sunday afternoon
Prisons still face a severe capacity crisis, decades in the making, despite '000s of early releases. Violence, esp against staff, has skyrocketed, returning to pre-pandemic peaks. Also seriously struggling is probation, which faces big pressures from prisons crisis & gov's new sentencing proposals.
June 10, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Prisons still face a severe capacity crisis, decades in the making, despite '000s of early releases. Violence, esp against staff, has skyrocketed, returning to pre-pandemic peaks. Also seriously struggling is probation, which faces big pressures from prisons crisis & gov's new sentencing proposals.
Criminal courts are in some of the worst state of all. The backlog of cases in both the magistrates’ (less serious) and especially the Crown Court (more serious) is large and rising, and dire productivity means courts are struggling to convert more funding into actually dealing with cases.
June 10, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Criminal courts are in some of the worst state of all. The backlog of cases in both the magistrates’ (less serious) and especially the Crown Court (more serious) is large and rising, and dire productivity means courts are struggling to convert more funding into actually dealing with cases.