This applied study looks at enabling prisoners to take responsibility for their own resettlement as a way of decreasing the high rates of re-conviction and aims to decipher what effective resettlement is. Discussion groups and interviews were conducted in nine prisons with prisoners, voluntary sector staff and the prison service. This study also draws on the Prisoner's Education Trust's Inside Time survey about prisoners' plans for resettlement.
Findings show a positive impact on resettlement as a result of commitment from prison staff, as they worked with the prisoner to make responsible choices about resettlement. One of the six key aspects of this would be for prison staff and the prisoner to work around improved contact with family and more involvement of families in preparation for release. The report recommends that the Ministry of Justice should work inter-departmentally to put in place family support as this is critical to effective rehabilitation. For prison managers the report advocates sharing responsibility for resettlement, between staff and building links, with community based organisations who have knowledge in areas such as family support, housing and employment. Furthermore, the report recommends government to pilot a payment by results scheme which recognises the offender as responsible and active in their resettlement.
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