Helen Dyson, Interim Chief Executive of Nacro, said:
“The findings from HMP Leeds are deeply troubling: cramped and overcrowded conditions, inadequate care for those at risk of self-harm, high levels of drug use, including people developing substance misuse problems after entering prison, and a lack of learning opportunities. Worryingly 30% of people were released homeless last year – twice that of the national average – doubling their chance of reoffending.
“Prisons should be places of rehabilitation, preparing people for release. If we are serious about creating safer communities and reducing reoffending, we must better support people both inside and outside of prison.”
-ENDS –
Notes to editor
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We operate in more than 40 prisons and provide services across England and Wales.
We help 33,000 people across our services each year and run the CAS-2 service for the Government housing people coming out of prison on bail or licence.
We work with people at every stage of the criminal justice system, from liaison and diversion services in police custody and courts, to resettlement into the community after prison.
We use the insights from our services and the experiences of the people we support to campaign together for a criminal justice system which better serves us all. We’ve been working in this field for more than 50 years.