A PRISON-based charity in the North-East has welcomed findings in a new report that not enough support is being given to families when offenders are released from jail.

A joint document by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation and education watchdog, Ofsted, said that the probe had confirmed their view that an offenders family was the most effective ‘resettlement agency’.

The report stated that 36 (46 per cent) of offenders questioned were planning to stay with family or friends when they were freed. Helping to maintain or restore these links, where appropriate, was important to their future success on the other side of the fence, explained the 64-page report.

“But too often these relationships are seen simply as a matter of visits which may be increased or reduced according to an offender’s behaviour,” it said.

“We found no evidence that families were involved in sentence planning for instance, even when an offender said they were relying on them for support after release.”

The report focused on a sample of 80 prisoners from jails across England, including the North-East.

It was produced to pre-empt changes taking effect from 2015 designed to reduce reoffending rates. Those serving sentences of less than one year will be subject to statutory supervision, supervision of low and medium risk offenders will pass to Community Rehabilitation Companies and higher-risk offenders are to be monitored by a new national probation service.

“If we are to truly transform rehabilitation, reduce re-offending by ex-prisoners and thereby reduce crime we need a more joined up strategy focused on supporting offenders’ families, positive parenting and healthy adult relationships,” said the Prison Family Support Alliance.

It is made up of Pact (Prison Advice & Care Trust), Pops (Partners of Prisoners), Jigsaw (visitor centre based at HMP Leeds) and Nepacs which operates at seven prisons across the North-East and aims to support a positive future for prisoners and their families.

The group is calling for more support inside prisons and more targeted help for their families as a strategy to tackle reoffending rates and an increase in prisoner suicides.

“Investing in family support work in prisons and with offenders’ families in the community, can help to reduce suicide and self harm in prisons and improve long term rehabilitation outcomes,” it added.

About the report Chief Inspector of Prisons, Nick Hardwick, said on behalf of the inspectorates: “The findings of this report are striking.

“It absolutely confirms the central importance of an offender’s family and friends to their successful rehabilitation.

“Sometimes they may be the victims of their crime and sometimes they might be a negative influence.

“However, overwhelmingly, this inspection confirmed our view that an offender’s family is the most effective resettlement agency.”