Reducing reoffending process evaluation
At a glance
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) wanted to assess the implementation of a £50 million package aimed at reducing reoffending in England and Wales. The initiatives funded by the package primarily focussed on accommodation for prison leavers as well as testing innovative rehabilitative approaches for those in custody. A process evaluation of the package was conducted between July 2021 and July 2022. A mixed-methods approach was used to capture a holistic view of the initiatives’ effectiveness and areas for improvement. The evaluation found that innovative prison programs and stable housing significantly reduced reoffending rates. The evaluation findings will inform prospective designs and potential larger scale roll out of similar activities in the future.
About the client
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is a major government department, at the heart of the justice system. They work to protect and advance the principles of justice.
Challenges and objectives
Reoffending not only affects victims but has negative consequences for the offenders themselves and society as a whole. Given the substantial reoffending rates and the wide-reaching consequences of offences, research is needed on what works to help reduce reoffending rates. The MoJ Sentencing White Paper, A Smarter Approach to Sentencing (September 2020), set out priorities in addressing reoffending as accommodation, employment and substance misuse treatment for prison leavers. A resulting £50 reducing reoffending investment package was announced in January 2021, covering both private and publicly run prisons and probation services across England and Wales. The investment package was primarily focused on accommodation for prison leavers, but also included funding to test innovative new approaches to improving rehabilitative support in custody, across three different strands of work.
Research was required to understand the roll-out of the initiatives, their implementation, and delivery mechanisms. We wanted to capture evidence on what had gone well, and what lessons had been identified for future adaption and roll-out, and what the barriers and enablers were. We sought to capture the experiences of prisoners and people on probation, sometimes through complex journeys through multiple activities or initiative, and assess the impact on reoffending outcomes.
Solution
Working with Sheffield Hallam University, we took a mixed-methods approach, combining both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis:
- Surveys: An online survey of staff involved in managing or delivering the activities funded by the investment package and a paper survey of prisoners and people on probation to gather insights on the implementation and impact of the initiatives.
- Case studies: Detailed examinations of specific sites and areas to understand contextual factors and best practices. We covered 4 prisons, 5 Approved Premises and 5 regions involved in the temporary accommodation programme.
This comprehensive approach aimed to capture a holistic view of the initiatives’ effectiveness and areas for improvement.
Impact
The evaluation identified challenges across all strands of work, including inconsistent delivery and the need for better coordination between agencies. Building a broad level of awareness and understanding of the investment package through different staff and stakeholders was important to support its intended outcomes, because of the need to generate their buy-in to implementing change. While awareness and understanding varied between managers and operational staff and between the different strands, the qualitative research did show that it improved over the investment period.
Within the strand of work that funded temporary accommodation for prison leavers, there was some evidence of positive outcomes from people who had been referred into temporary accommodation and who would have otherwise been homeless. However, lack of suitable temporary accommodation and move-on accommodation were major challenges. The evaluation findings will inform prospective designs and potential larger scale roll out of similar activities in the future.