The government is currently seeking to reduce prison overcrowding in England and Wales through a major sentencing review and an early prison release scheme.

Last week, a man released through the program warned that former prisoners were more likely to reoffend to survive without a place to live.

Campbell Robb, CEO of Nacro, said: “The vicious cycle of recidivism that many prison leavers find themselves trapped in is often fueled by homelessness and unemployment. »

According to the government numbers, externalthe cost of reoffending in England and Wales is around £18 billion a year.

“In strictly monetary terms, failure to use evidence-based measures to reduce recidivism creates a gaping black hole in public finances,” Mr Robb said.

“Tackling recidivism by adequately investing in housing and rehabilitation programs is imperative if the government is to commit to creating a more sustainable justice system and, in turn, a safer society for us all.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said that these figures illustrate “the scale of the prison crisis which the new government has inherited”.

They added that prisoners at risk of homelessness could be offered up to 12 weeks of temporary accommodation under a scheme rolled out since July 2021.