This is the total financial impact of reoffending, including the total cost of detecting, sentencing and imprisoning people who have already been through the system. This reoffending represents over half the total cost of all crime in England and Wales.
The Challenge
Reoffending is one of the greatest challenges we face as a society, costing the taxpayer over £23bn every year. But the true price is far higher. This offending makes our communities less safe. It has a huge social cost and wastes potential, and the crimes committed by those who reoffend profoundly impact the lives of their victims and wider society.
Our prisons are home to some of society’s most vulnerable people. Compared to the general population, they are much more likely to have spent time in care as a child, to have witnessed and experienced physical abuse, and to suffer from substance misuse and mental health problems. They are also less likely to have attained minimum standards in education with nearly half having no qualifications, to have had stable accommodation, or to have held down a job prior to entering prison.
Reoffending prisoners cost the taxpayer an estimated £23.6bn per year
More than 40% of prisoners are reconvicted within a year of release
For those serving sentences of less than 12 months, the reconviction rate is almost 60%. The crimes committed by people who reoffend profoundly impact the lives of their victims.
24% of adult male prisoners were taken into care as a child
This increases to over 30% for women in prison and compares to just 2% of the general population.
Over 70% have the literacy skills of an 11-year-old
Over 70% of the prison population have the literary skills expected of an 11-year-old or younger. This is almost five times higher than the general adult population (15%). Literacy is vital for increasing employment opportunities post release and therefore reducing the risk of reoffending. It can also support family connections and improve mental wellbeing for prisoners.
Our vision is a system where every prisoner receives the support that they need to flourish and desist from crime, breaking the link between disadvantage and reoffending. But prison is not a place which does that currently.
Unlocked is working to change this. Prison officers are the key to helping prisoners transform their lives. We want innovative leaders to join the prison service to bring fresh thinking and new ideas to reform prisons, helping those in their care prepare for life beyond the gates.
The Unlocked Solution
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Our Approach