Summing Up
This briefing outlines the findings from our research over the past 10 years (2000-2009). This has focused on the ‘revolving doors’ group – people facing multiple problems who are in repeat contact with the criminal justice system. We set out the learning, assess the strength of the evidence and identify gaps.
The revolving doors group is not homogenous in terms of levels of offending, need and complexity – in fact, it may not be ‘one group’ at all. It could be seen as a collection of distinct groups that share similar features, whose members may pass from group to group. There are also likely to be differences based on demographic features such as gender or ethnicity. Identifying a group for research that is partly defined by its failure to be linked with services presents a problem. As this group consistently falls through the gaps in service provision, many of our reports used data from our experimental Link Worker schemes (1997-2003 in particular). This briefing also looks at research conducted with women prisoners, peer research conducted by our National Service User Forum and other reports looking at families and financial exclusion.
A number of important policy changes have taken place during this ten-year period. These will inevitably have had an impact on the types and levels of need experienced by the group.
Overall, our research has clearly shown that a group exists that has multiple unmet interrelated needs, including:
- Health
- Behavioural needs
- Practical needs
- Emotional needs
- Victimisation
- Education, skill and employment-based needs.
It is concerning that services are failing to adequately meet the needs of this high-need group. However, we believe that it is possible to turn around people’s lives and significantly reduce crime and the costs to the taxpayer.
