Investigating the Prisoner Finance Gap across four prisons in the North East (RR715)
The research investigates the nature of the Prisoner Finance Gap as experienced by prisoners and ex-prisoners.
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By Linda Meadows, Simon Feasey and Dr Hayden Bird with Joanna Davidson, Dr Katherine Wilkinson, Jane Woodford and Laura McCulloch
Within the underpinning context of reducing re-offending of released prisoners, the Prisoner Finance Gap (PFG) has been identified as an issue likely to present a significant barrier to the effective resettlement of offenders. The Hallam Centre for Community Justice was therefore commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions to conduct a qualitative investigation into the PFG within four prisons in the North East.
The research investigates the nature of the PFG as experienced by prisoners and ex-prisoners, the systems in place to address their financial exclusion and the extent to which pre-release inputs impacted on financial inclusion following release. It identifies obstacles and barriers to the take-up of inputs and examines the nature and effectiveness of strategic and operational relationships. It concludes with a series of recommendations aimed to address the issues raised.