Praise for ex-offenders’ prison project

Researchers have praised a scheme that results in former offenders returning to jails to work with inmates to prepare them for release.

A report by academics at Edinburgh University published today, says the Routes out of Prison project has tackled problems such as homelessness, addiction and family breakdown. It has also pioneered the use of life coaches, more than two-thirds of whom have past convictions.

The aim of the programme, run by the Glasgow-based social enterprise The Wise Group, is to cut reoffending and help prisoners into work and training when their sentence is complete.

The project, currently operating in seven jails with a high population on short-term sentences, has the backing of the Scottish Prison Service. Researchers say it is also winning approval from other agencies such as social work departments and advice centres, while it is successful in reaching prisoners who might otherwise be hostile to offers of support.

Over a 24-month period from January 2009 to 2010, workers met with 3,12 prisoners, 1557 of whom stayed in touch with a worker on their release.

Of those who stayed with the programme, almost one-fifth went into work, training or education, while 40% returned to jail, compared with 44% of a control group.

Wise Group director Laurie Russell said he was “disappointed” with the numbers finding work, but said the economic climate made it ever harder to find jobs for people with criminal convictions.

However, he said the scheme was clearly demonstrating its worth.