Justice Select Committee publishes latest report about ‘dire’ cycle of reoffending
The Justice Select Committee (JSC) has published a report about rehabilitation, resettlement and ending the cycle of reoffending.
Describing critical pressures and failings across the system, including crises in staffing, wellbeing, education, contracting and remand, the report raises alarm about persistently high reoffending rates, as JSC Chair Andy Slaughter MP said that attempts to break this cycle of crisis and crime simply “aren’t working”.
In Revolving Doors’ submission to the initial call for evidence, we put forward insights from our members about what helped and hindered their escape from the revolving door of reoffending. In addition to an end to short sentences, which is now going through Parliament as part of the Government’s Sentencing Bill, we our recommendations included:
- Stronger, better understood (by sentencers) community sentences which specifically set out to tackle the root causes of someone’s reoffending.
- A comprehensive evaluation of the approach to recalls.
- The integration of (paid) peer support into all community-based solutions, and the co-designing of services with people who have lived experience.
- Improved data-sharing across services.
Our members made it clear: if we want to end the revolving door, we need a properly-funded, person-centred approach which tackles unmet needs and gives people hope for the future.
“I met 2 women in a homelessness centre who showed empathy, listened and communicated well. I was taken as a person, not an ex-offender. They asked what I wanted and needed.” – Lived experience member
Read our submission here:
