Nacro analysis of MOJ data regarding people released from prison between April 2023 to March 2024 found a 31% increase in the number of people released homeless. The data showed:
Homelessness after prison
- There has been a 12% increase in the number of people being released from prison in the past year (rising from 62,345 to 70,040) – and the number of people leaving into homelessness has risen 31% (from 7,055 to 9,210).
- The proportion of all prison leavers who were released homeless in 2023/24 was 13.1%. In 2022/23 it was 11.3%.
- On average about 800 people per month go straight from prison into homelessness.
- There has been a 48% increase in the past year of women released from prison who are rough sleeping (increasing from 445 to 660).
- There has been an increase of 45% in the past year of people rough sleeping three months after being released from prison (increasing from 2330 to 3375).
State of Prisons
- 42% of all prisons in England and Wales were rated of concern or serious concern for their overall performance – this is a 5% rise on last year.
Campbell Robb, Nacro, Chief Executive responds to the latest data:
On homelessness after prison
“The number of people leaving prison into homelessness has increased significantly in the past year. This is on average 800 people a month who go straight from prison to homelessness, most of those are rough sleeping. The increase in homelessness is likely to be driven in part by the former Government’s early release scheme, which saw people coming out early, too often without enough time to prepare.
“This data is a clear warning to the new Government not to repeat the mistakes of the past. Immediate steps to tackle the prisons overcrowding crisis are necessary, but they must put in place special measures to house the thousands of extra people coming out of prison early in the Autumn. Otherwise, they risk swapping the prisons crisis with a homelessness crisis.
“People are 50% more likely to reoffend if they are homeless, so it is likely many people released early into homelessness will return to prison and the opportunity to free up space in the prison system will be wasted.
“We will work with Government and all partners inside and outside of prison to do what we can to try and ensure people get the support they need on release.”
On the prisons’ ratings
“Today’s data presents a depressing report card of a prison system in crisis with a disconcertingly high number of prisons rated of concern or serious concern.
“Our prison system has been brought into total disrepute through successive governments’ systemic failure to develop a long-term, sustainable and evidence-based plan for our criminal justice system. Under-resourced, overcrowded and ailing buildings not fit for purpose have pushed prisons into crisis. The recent Independent Monitoring Board reports of unprecedented levels of violence at Feltham Young Offenders Institute and doubling levels of self-harm at HMP Leicester offer a glimpse into the bleak reality of life in prison.
“We know that that the impact of a prison system in crisis extends far beyond the prison walls and into our communities. Focusing on rehabilitation becomes almost impossible, making it difficult for those in prison to take the steps necessary to start rebuilding their lives. Such failures signify a broader societal failure to create a criminal justice system which reduces reoffending and better serves us all.”
