Overcrowded Prisons

The UK has a higher proportion of the population incarcerated than any other country in Western Europe. Moreover, overcrowding in prisons means that the scope for achieving rehabilitation is severely curtailed. Reducing the rate of reoffending needs to be an imperative.

The Ministry of Justice spends over £1.7 billion each year in the quest for reducing reoffending but some of the most effective work is being carried out within the charitable sector. Looking at the types of intervention carried out by the most effective charities it appears that the best results arise from intervening while offenders are still in prison, then supporting them on release in partnership with employers who understand the nuances of taking on people who have had the freedom removed, some times for extended periods. The results can be spectacular: negligible rates of reoffending.

Unusually, the impact of all interventions can be measured independently by the DataLab set up by the Ministry of Justice. This far-sighted initiative provides a potential blueprint for use in many other sectors, such as education and healthcare. It identifies those organisations that really are making a difference.

Find out more here.

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