New data published by the Ministry of Justice highlights homelessness is a key driver of reoffending:
- 62% of people who are homeless after prison go on to reoffend
- 67% of people who are rough sleeping reoffend after leaving prison
- This compares to just 32% of people who are in settled accommodation go on to reoffend
- People who leave prison are twice as likely to reoffend if they are homeless
- People are more than twice as likely to reoffend if they are rough sleeping after leaving prison.
The data shows a widening gap in reoffending rates between people experiencing homelessness after prison compared to those who have somewhere to live after release. Previous data from 2016 showed that people released homelessness were 50% more likely to reoffend, this new data release reveals that people are more than twice as likely to reoffend if they are homeless compared to those in settled accommodation.
The data also reveals the considerable impact unemployment has on reoffending rates. It found that:
- People who are unemployed six weeks after leaving prison are twice as likely to reoffend as those in employment.
- 34% of people who are unemployed at the six week point go on to reoffend compared to just 17% of those who are unemployed.
The data further illustrates the vital importance of housing and employment after prison to reduce rates of offending.
