Criminals at Brinsford Young Offenders Institute near Wolverhampton will be able to rent a TV for their cell if they agree to behave, it was revealed today.

Burglars and muggers will be able to wear their own clothes and spend more time with each other out of their cells if they sign up to pledges to stay out of trouble.

Brinsford, next to the adult jail at Featherstone, is one of three Midland prisons which will be trialing the new arrangements for six months, starting on July 21.

If successful it will be rolled out across all areas in 2009.

Read the full story in today’s Express & Star.

Criminals at Brinsford Young Offenders Institute near Wolverhampton will be able to rent a TV for their cell if they agree to behave, it was revealed today.

Burglars and muggers will be able to wear their own clothes and spend more time with each other out of their cells if they sign up to pledges to stay out of trouble.

Brinsford, next to the adult jail at Featherstone, is one of three Midland prisons which will be trialing the new arrangements for six months, starting on July 21.

If successful it will be rolled out across all areas in 2009.

The deal, which is also being trialed at Drake Hall in Stafford and HMP Shrewsbury, will see convicts serving shorter sentences given “end of custody reports” which will highlight good behaviour and can be shown to employers.

Prisons Minister David Hanson said today: “Offenders need to know that as well as being given the opportunity of rehabilitation they also have responsibilities which they must meet.

“It is vital the public understands and has confidence in the basis on which offenders, especially those in custody, are granted access to certain privileges. Such privileges can and will be taken away if behaviour fails to meet certain standards.

“These new proposals will not only require offenders to demonstrate basic compliance, as is now the case, but will now call on them to show commitment beyond this.

They will be given set objectives and could also be asked to make reparation to the community.”