Between now and the spring of next year, the government department will be funded with millions of pounds for new tools intended to help ‘avoid mistakes and calculate sentence accurately’
In light of recent erroneous releases of prisoners, the Ministry of Justice has been given a £10m warchest to invest over the next few months in artificial intelligence and other new technologies to help prevent future mishaps.
In response to several high-profile incidents of offenders being released from custody in error – and figures showing that more than 350 such releases have happened since March 2024 – prime minister Keir Starmer last month set out an action plan to tackle the issue. A key strand of this strategy is the use of data and tech, with sentencing minister Jake Richards last month stating that “a team of data scientists are reviewing releases in error to gain a clear picture of what is going wrong”.
Related content
- Interview: MoJ leader on how digital can support reform and rehabilitation
- Prisoners’ children: MoJ deploys machine learning and data analytics to support better policy
- MoJ floats action plan to ‘embed’ AI across department
Supporting the work of these experts will be new specialised units – and a funding pot to allow the MoJ to deploy new tools, according to new comments from Richards.
“Our initial steps to address issues including release in error and unlawful detention…. includes the establishment of an Urgent Warrant Query Unit supported by court experts so prisons can escalate queries to reduce the risk of release in error,” the minister said, in response to a written parliamentary question from Reform MP Sarah Pochin. “We have also stood up a digital rapid response unit to reduce human error with cutting-edge technology. We will provide up to £10m over the next six months to deliver AI and technology-based solutions to support frontline staff, helping to avoid mistakes and calculate sentence accurately. We are also simplifying release policy; one of the aims of the Sentencing Bill is to standardise how cases are treated.”
