Committees

Rehabilitation and resettlement: ending the cycle of reoffending

Inquiry

The Justice Committee has launched its inquiry into Resettlement and Rehabilitation, which is centred around investigating the cycle of reoffending. 

HM Prison and Probation Service aims to reduce reoffending by rehabilitating the people in its care through education and employment. However, reoffending in England and Wales remains high. For the year ending December 2023, 78% of all offenders cautioned or convicted for an indictable offence in 2023 had at least one prior caution or conviction. 

The Committee has decided to investigate the journey of an offender through the criminal justice system and examine what offer of rehabilitation and resettlement the offender has the ability to engage with, to prevent future reoffending. 

The inquiry sets out to look at what the regime offer is in different prisons and for different prisoner cohorts. It will also look at services in prison and whether they encompass principles of desistance and purposeful activity. The inquiry will also investigate governance in prisons, including staffing and contracting, and to what extent it impacts the ability to deliver rehabilitative services in prison. 

The inquiry will also look at what support is available for ex-offenders’ post-release, and whether there is sufficient join up, data sharing and capacity of these services to deliver effective resettlement services. The inquiry will also consider alternatives to custody, and what impact licence recall conditions have on promoting resettlement, and the role of community sentencing. 

Read the terms of reference for more detail about the inquiry, and to submit evidence. 

This inquiry is no longer accepting evidence

The deadline for submissions was Friday 17 January 2025.

Upcoming events

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Past events

Tuesday 13 May 2025
2:00pm Private
2:30pm Public
Rehabilitation and resettlement: ending the cycle of reoffending - Oral evidence 13 May 2025
2:30pm
  • Charlie Taylor (Chief Inspector of Prisons at HM Inspectorate of Prisons)
  • Adrian Usher (Prisons and Probation Ombudsman at Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO))
  • Elisabeth Davies (National Chair at Independent Monitoring Boards (IMB))
The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Tuesday 11 March 2025
2:00pm Private
2:30pm Public
Rehabilitation and resettlement: ending the cycle of reoffending - Oral evidence 11 March 2025
2:30pm
  • Annick Platt (National Operations Director at Novus)
  • Jon Collins (Chief Executive at Prisoners' Education Trust)
  • Michala Robertson (Assistant Director, Student Additional Support at Open University)
3:30pm
  • Lee Owston (National Director for Education at Ofsted)
  • Dr Jo Grady (General Secretary at University and College Union (UCU))
  • Victoria Barnett (Chair, Prison Libraries Group at Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals)
The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Tuesday 4 February 2025
2:00pm Private
2:30pm Public
Rehabilitation and resettlement: ending the cycle of reoffending - Oral evidence 4 February 2025
2:30pm
  • Helen Berresford (Director of External Engagement at Nacro)
  • Nicola Drinkwater (Director of External Affairs and Campaigns at Women in Prison)
  • Anne Fox (Chief Executive Officer at Clinks)
  • Jess Mullen (Chief Executive Officer at Alliance for Youth Justice)
  • Pia Sinha (Chief Executive Officer at Prison Reform Trust)
Room 6, Palace of Westminster

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