Prison should lead to more than a return visit
Prison should lead to more than a return visit
Why we are here
Unlocked Graduates exists to break cycles of reoffending, with a particular focus on breaking the link between disadvantage and reoffending. Currently, prison is not a place that successfully does this: the average prisoner has 16 previous convictions and 48 per cent of prisoners re-offend within a year of release. This is the problem which Unlocked Graduates exists to fix.
Our vision is a prison system where every prisoner receives the support that they need to flourish and desist from crime.
Our strategy reflects on everything we have learnt over the past five years, and the steps we now need to take to build the prison system we need. With this in mind we are committing to four areas of work:
1. Recruit, develop and retain more high-quality graduates as Prison Officers.
2. Support Ambassadors to progress into operational prison leadership roles.
3. Mainstream our solutions so all Prison Officers benefit from our research & work.
4. Prove what works in prisons to catalyse whole system change.
The Problem
Whatever your views on criminal justice, whether you see prison as a place to punish and deter future crime or to actively rehabilitate, prisons are failing. Just under half of those that leave prison today will be reconvicted within a year.
Our Solution
We believe the way you change prisons and break cycles of reoffending is through prison officers. The prison officer is the only professional who can build a relationship with every single prisoner – including the most vulnerable and challenging.
