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New figures released by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) show that homeless prison leavers are twice as likely to reoffend than those with a permanent place to live. Statistics reveal that over two-thirds of adults in England and Wales who left custody without accommodation in the final quarter of 2022 reoffended within a year. The data covers those who were released from custody between 2020 and 2022, and who were cautioned or convicted of another offence within 12 months. Rates of reoffending among homeless prison leavers have remained relatively stable, while rising numbers of incarcerated people has led to prison overcrowding.
Previously data published regularly by the government only showed overall reoffending rates. This is the first time results have been broken down by the situations prisoners were released into, revealing the increased likelihood of reoffending among those without a home. Nacro, a social justice charity, has warned that the findings should lead to more investment in housing to help reduce the numbers of offenders in prisons across England and Wales.
The MoJ has also published an analysis of reoffending rates by employment status during the same period, revealing that those working six weeks after being released from custody were 17% less likely to reoffend than those who remained unemployed. The government is currently reviewing sentencing policy and has also introduced a prison early release scheme in an attempt to ease prison overcrowding. Last week, a man released through the early release program warned about former prisoners’ increased likelihood of reoffending without somewhere to live.
According to government figures, reoffending costs in England and Wales amount to around £18bn annually. Nacro CEO Campbell Robb said that the “vicious cycle of reoffending so many prison leavers find themselves trapped in is often driven by homelessness and unemployment.” Addressing reoffending with adequate investment in housing and rehabilitation schemes is urgently needed, he added. A new government programme that was rolled out since July 2021 offers prisoners at risk of homelessness temporary housing for up to 12 weeks
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