A landmark report from the UK Ministry of Justice is reshaping the national conversation around criminal sentencing. The Independent Sentencing Review, led by former Justice Secretary David Gauke, calls for a decisive move away from punitive measures and toward evidence-based rehabilitation strategies.

The review, published in May and updated in July 2025, comes amid mounting pressure on the UK’s prison system. With overcrowding reaching critical levels and emergency prisoner releases becoming politically fraught, the report estimates that its five key recommendations could reduce the prison population by nearly 9,800 people.

At the heart of the review is a call to reimagine sentencing not as a tool of punishment, but as a means of rehabilitation and public safety. “What people really want isn’t necessarily harsher punishment,” says Sean Reynolds, Palladium Consultant on Justice. “They want fewer people reoffending and repeating their previous behaviour. That means helping people change, not just locking them up longer.”

Reynolds emphasises that successful rehabilitation hinges on more than just avoiding imprisonment. “People commit less crime when they have a job or a positive relationship,” he explains. “But they also need somewhere to live, freedom from addiction, and a mindset that takes responsibility for their actions.”

The review also highlights the disproportionate impact of the justice system on Black men in the UK, calling for targeted approaches to address systemic inequalities. It critiques the past decade’s penal policy, which has leaned heavily on longer sentences and punitive measures. “We’ve been sending more people to prison for longer,” Reynolds notes. “But it’s expensive, and it’s not working.”

Instead, the report advocates for strengthening community-based sentences, which are shown to be more effective and less costly. It recommends increased investment in probation services and innovative programs that engage offenders in meaningful work. One standout example is the Unpaid Work partnership with the Canal & River Trust, where offenders contribute to environmental restoration projects. “It’s a double benefit,” says Reynolds.

“Valuable work is undertaken and the community sees these people in a positive context, and the offenders feel like they belong to and are contributing to the community.”

Recent updates to the review include expanded documentation such as Welsh translations and an “Easy Read” executive summary, signaling a growing commitment to transparency and public engagement. “We need to bring the evidence to the public,” Reynolds says. “If people understand what works, they’re more likely to support it.”

The Ministry of Justice has also emphasised victim support, technology in sentencing, and tailored approaches for different offender groups. These additions reflect a more holistic view of justice—one that balances public safety, rehabilitation, and fairness.

Evidence-based practice is a recurring theme throughout the report. His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service now has a dedicated team focused on evaluating what works. “When I started working in the sector, it was based on good intentions and hunches on what would be effective,” Reynolds recalls. “Now we’re seeing a shift. People are paying attention to the data.”

And Palladium’s team is seeing it play out in real time. Becky Brocklehurst, Operations Director for the DWP Restart Scheme, which works across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to support long term unemployed people get back into work, shares that since launching in 2021, the team has worked with more than 850 people with declared convictions.

”Being the springboard for all those that walk through our doors - no matter their background - is a golden thread that runs through our team,” Brocklehurst adds. “For some that has meant being their advocate to employers and helping to push that door to gain that second chance. The employer links that we have established through Restart has helped open doors to conversations with employers - and employers, given the trust we have established, have been happy to support.”

Still, the path forward isn’t without challenges. Political pressures often favor tough-on-crime rhetoric over nuanced reform. “Crime is a political issue,” Reynolds admits. “In some senses, it’s easier, though more expensive to build more prisons than to take a chance on something new.”

Yet, there’s a sense of cautious optimism. “Everyone in the system broadly agrees that the current approach isn’t working,” he says. “There’s an opportunity here to bring the public along—to show them the evidence and build support for smarter sentencing.”

The review draws partial inspiration from Scandinavian models, which generally prioritise rehabilitation over punishment. “This is a brave approach,” Reynolds says. “but on the face of it, appears to bringing significant benefits.”

Ultimately, the report calls for a person-centered approach—one that sees offenders not just as risks to be managed, but as individuals capable of change. “If you want people to take responsibility,” Reynolds concludes, “you have to give them something to be responsible for.”

As the UK grapples with the future of its justice system, the Independent Sentencing Review offers a roadmap grounded in evidence, compassion, and common sense. Whether policymakers will follow it remains to be seen, though Reynolds contends that from his perspective, the government is making a good start.