Mags GarganNew research by the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO) shows that securing accommodation was the most important factor in helping a person move away from criminality.
The ICPO, a pastoral outreach of the Irish Bishops Conference, works with approximately 1,200 Irish people imprisoned in more than 30 countries around the world, offering information, support and helping returning ex-prisoners in their resettlement.
A report commissioned by the ICPO and launched at its 30th anniversary conference on Tuesday, shows that while “a relatively small number (estimated to be less than 100) of Irish ex-prisoners return to Ireland each year”, of those “a significant number are acutely vulnerable and lack many of the basic social supports people take for granted”.
Research
The research found that sheltered housing, specifically for ex-prisoners who cannot access existing sheltered housing structures because they are ‘high risk’, “would be beneficial in terms of supporting the individual and protecting the public”.
“Having accommodation is a very important factor for those leaving prison, as ex-prisoners are more likely to re-offend if they do not have adequate accommodation to go to upon their release,” said researcher Paul Gavin.
“One Irish study found that almost 40% of respondents reported that homelessness had directly contributed to their re-offending behaviour.”