The Sham Side of the Discharge Grant

...let's just bring things back down to earth shall we?

While everyone is saying how wonderful it is that the Discharge Grant is to rise to ￡76 after 25 years, can we please just pause for a moment and bear in mind there are two sides to this story, and the other side doesn't call for a round of applause when its story is told. 

Question: Who gets the Discharge Grant?

Answer: According to Annexe B of PSI 72/2011 all prisoners aged 18 or over who have served more than 14 days in custody after receiving a custodial sentence must be given a Discharge Grant - EXCEPT all those prisoners in the following categories who are NOT eligible for a Discharge Grant:

• Prisoners who are released from court after a period on remand, even if the time on remand was over 14 days (including those sentenced to ‘time served’). Sentenced prisoners who have served 14 days or less in custody since the date of sentence - in essence this means that someone who has spent 18 months on remand awaiting their court appearance - easily done in these times of pandemic court delays - and who is either acquitted at court, sentenced to a non-custodial sentence or sentenced to time served is kicked out of the court room door onto the street with nothing.
• Those recalled from licence to prison for a period of 14 days or less
• Licence recalls who were on licence for 14 days or less before recall
• Those awaiting deportation or removal from the United Kingdom
• Those travelling to an address outside the United Kingdom. For the purpose of paying the Discharge Grant, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland are included within the United Kingdom
• Those being discharged to a hospital under a Mental Health Act Section Order
• Fine defaulters and those held on further remand warrants. Convicted offenders who have completed their sentence and who qualify for a grant but remain in custody in default of payment of a fine or remanded on further charges, will receive the grant on their final release
• Civil prisoners, as defined in PSO 4600
• Those aged under 18 at the time of release - you might be forgiven for thinking these children are more in need of support than others?
• Unconvicted prisoners - where they are bailed at court, through Judge in Chambers or where the CPS informs the prison the charges have been dropped

Sometimes all that glistens isn't gold.