Shabana has visited the US State of Texas in her role as Lord Chancellor to see its prisons first-hand.
Reforms introduced in Texas since 2007 are credited with slashing the number of offenders recalled to jail, and cutting crime to levels last seen in the late 1960s.
The trip is part of a wider independent sentencing review being conducted by David Gauke and an expert panel.
During the visit, Shabana spoke to officers and inmates at the Estelle prison – one of two super maximum security prisons in the state of Texas.
Prisoners in the State can reduce the length of time they serve by earning ‘good behaviour and good time’ credits.
Speaking during her visit, Shabana said:
Twenty years ago, Texas faced a crisis just like the one we face today. Its prison population was soaring. So Republicans and Democrats here took a new approach, one that was both tough and smart.
They encouraged prisoners to turn their backs on a life of crime with good behaviour inside prison, leading to an earlier parole hearing. And they made greater use of punishment outside prison with specialist court that tackle the root cause of reoffending.
I’ve seen it all this week, and one thing is clear: this approach works.
Reoffending rates are down, crime has fallen to its lowest level in decades, and Texas has brought its prison population under control. If we want to cut crime, just like the Texans have, it is time to get tough and smart.
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