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Successful Employment and Resettlement of Ex-Offenders
27 Sep 2007
THIS IS A PODCAST ONLY EVENT

A recent report from the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, ‘Building on Progress: Security, Crime and Justice’ has reinforced the argument that rehabilitation, resettlement, education and employment schemes for the offender, both during and after prison sentences, are vital to reducing re-offending.” Reducing Re-offending: Creating the Right Framework, NLGN, June 2007 The need to establish effective programmes to reduce re-offending has never been greater. Accommodation and employment are two of the seven pathways identified as crucial to providing ex-offenders with the support infrastructure they need in their lives to enable them to avoid falling back into crime. Evidence from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development also indicates that ex-offenders are very reliable and strong employees though work still needs to be done to convince employers to take on recently released prisoners. Similarly steady accommodation is key, as the NOMS website states: Accommodation can provide the anchor for a previously chaotic life and act as a springboard for other crucial steps such as getting and keeping a job, and accessing health care or drug treatment. With contributions from leading figures from criminal justice agencies, employers, housing agencies and the voluntary sector this important national conference set out how to develop programmes that will impact positively on ex-offenders and help them re-build their lives. Case studies of innovative and effective projects were used to illustrate the difference that businesses, housing agencies and the public sector can make to the benefit of the whole community.

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