This inspection report which aims to inform the upcoming changes to prisons and probation as part of the Transforming Rehabilitation agenda, confirms the importance of the family's role in the resettlement of ex-prisoners.
The report focuses on reducing reoffending. Research was conducted with offenders prior to imprisonment, during imprisonment and six months after release. Fieldwork was also carried out with supervisors. Key findings of note to NICCO users include: -
- Relationships with family members were too often perceived by prison staff as visits which could be increased or decreased according to behaviour.
- Little investigation was taken of whether accommodation with family upon release was suitable or whether alternative arrangements would have to be made.
- Women offenders who were sole carers for their children had entitlements to housing that needed to be identified and met.
Recommendations to Ministers, CEO's of NOMS and Prison Governors, Directors, CRC's and other resettlement companies focus, in part, on ways of ensuring relationships between the offender and their children and families are central to resettlement. HM chief inspectorates of all inspectors remarks: "It (the report) absolutely confirms the central importance of an offender's family and friends to their successful rehabilitation. Where possible resettlement work should include helping the offender and his or her family maintain or rebuild relationships, an assessment of the support a family is able and willing to provide and, where appropriate, involvement of the family in plans for release. It is important that work on family relationships provided by the prison is integrated with work done by resettlement service providers.
Download this thematic resettlement inspection report below.
