As a key step in its justice reform plans, ministers are urging businesses to promote job opportunities for ex-offenders. They say this will reduce UK re-offending rates and boost business reputation.
Continue reading to learn more about what ministers want and why, together with consideration of potential advantages of offering job opportunities for ex-offenders
Ministers New Justice Reform: What Do They Want?
Improving Job Opportunities for Ex-Offenders
There are plans to implement a new justice reform with a view to assist with prison overcrowding and lowering UK reoffending rates. As part of this reform, Prisons Minister James Timpson and Justice Minister Shabana Mahmood are set to announce several possible measures.
Read: Talent Shortage May Encourage Businesses to Hire Ex-Offenders
Chief of these will be to encourage businesses across the UK to offer more job opportunities for ex-offenders. Prisons contain employment advisory boards which help prisoners develop relevant skills and connect with potential employment opportunities following their release.
Ministers are pushing to expand these boards by increasing the number of businesses which actively recruit from prisons. Examples of companies which currently do this include Greggs, Lotus Cars, and the prisons minister’s own key-cutting business, Timpsons.
Reducing Prison Release Time
Another element of the justice reform plans is to lessen the time for early prisoner release. This would mean decreasing the automatic release point for offenders serving less than four years in prison.
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Currently, this is set at 50% and ministers are looking to reduce the early prisoner release time to 40%. This will not apply to those who have been convicted of violent, sexual, or terror-related offences. However, theoretically, this could mean that an offender sentenced to twelve months imprisonment would be eligible for early prisoner release after just 21 weeks.
During imprisonment, ministers are looking to increase offenders’ chances to undertake “purposeful activity”. This is likely to involve various types of learning and training. In addition, offenders will be helped to establish plans for after their release.
“State of Prisoners is Worse Than I Thought it Was”, PM Keir Starmer
Prisons in the UK have reached a dire position with respect to overcrowding, with less than 700 spaces currently available in men’s prisons across the country. Last week, the new Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, admitted that the present state of prisons is “worse than I thought it was” and that “I’m pretty shocked that it’s been allowed to get into that situation.”
One reason for this “situation” is the prevalence of reoffending in the UK. According to research published by the government, 25.5% of those who have committed offences in the UK re-offend. For those who received prison sentences, the UK reoffending rates increased to 33.2%, and this rose still further to 55.5% for those whose prison sentences were less than 12 months.
Read: “We Need a New Economic Plan”: TUC after Rise in Unemployment Rates
Offering job opportunities for ex-offenders gives them a second chance to turn their lives around. Speaking about his own experience, an ex-offender and now KPMG UK employee remembered how the second chance gave him hope for the future. He recalls facing multiple rejections and says, “It felt quite belittling because no one’s looking at your skills and experience – that generates a lot of anger and frustration…”
Increased Job Opportunities for Ex-Offenders Can Boost the UK Economy
Offering job opportunities for ex-offenders gives them the chance to get back into employment, providing them with a purpose which helps financially and mentally. This, in turn, reduces the likelihood of reoffending, making ex-offenders’ lives more fulfilling and the world a safer place. Government data shows that only 17% of ex-offenders manage to get a job within a year of leaving prison, yet those who do are nearly 10% less likely to re-offend.
Read: Employment Law Changes To Look Out For Following Labour’s Election Win
From a business perspective, getting ex-offenders into employment helps to boost the UK economy and generate growth. Plus, providing job opportunities for ex-offenders is often favourable to a business’s reputation. In fact, around 92% of employers who recruit ex-offenders state that this has helped their public image. Additional business advantages include diversifying their workforce, addressing skills shortages, and reducing costs of recruitment.
A slight concern for many is that ex-offenders may not have the right temperament to work for their business. However, research shows that 90% of businesses which have provided job opportunities for ex-offenders have reported that they are trustworthy, motivated, and reliable. Such traits can also positively impact other employees, encouraging them to value their jobs and demonstrate loyalty to their employer.
