Shaping resettlement policy and practice: a case study partnership
Centre for the Study of Law in Theory and Practice
Prison and Probation services rarely benefit from state-of-the-art expertise and a world-class knowledge base.
This project promoted a system change agenda to ensure more inmates returned to settled, law-abiding lives after prison.
Impacts on Liverpool City Region
Researchers worked in HMP Liverpool and Merseyside Community Rehabilitation Company to enabling collaborative working through the Merseyside Reducing Reoffending Group, practitioner forums and a webinar series engaging senior managers with emergent evidence.
The project enhanced knowledge, decision making and service provision among national bodies responsible for: resettlement policy and informed those campaigning for policy change such as Reform and the National Association of Probation Officers.
Following a series of damning inspections HMP Liverpool witnessed a remarkable turnaround in which resettlement provision within the prison was subsequently rated as ‘excellent’ and TTG provision provided by Merseyside CRC as ‘outstanding’. The changes engaged more prisoners and offered improved experiences to many of the 6,000 prisoners released into the Merseyside area annually. Following recommendations by LJMU researchers 75% of prisoners reported that they were receiving help with preparing them for release compared with 47% and 41% in previous inspections.
“This research has enhanced the work of the Board and helped influence senior stakeholders and support conversations which challenge and help drive system change” - Chair of the Merseyside Reducing Reoffending Board
LJMU Academics
Dr Stuart Taylor