NCJ Number
171296
Journal
Howard Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 36 Issue: 3 Dated: (August 1997) Pages: 293-304
Date Published
1997
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The adequacy of the discharge grants given to prisoners in the United Kingdom upon their release was studied, based on an analysis of its purpose and interviews with 10 male prisoners who were within 2-3 weeks of release and 14 men who had been released from prison within the previous month.
Abstract
The Home Office provides this grant to meet offenders' immediate needs on release. This grant was never intended to pay for housing. However, the grant is many offenders' only source of income until they find a job or receive their first benefit check. A recent survey conducted by NACRO revealed that three basic needs on release include long-term housing, help in finding a job, and help with social security claims. The interviews revealed that former inmates' immediate needs were for housing, food, clothes, travel, and telephone calls. Little specific planning occurred prior to release. The participants generally expected to receive social security, rarely had employment plans, lacked savings, and tended to rely on informal support networks. Findings indicated that the grant lasted only a few days. Thus, former inmates were left with very little money to cover even basic needs in the 2 weeks before they were entitled to receive any income support from the social security system. Findings suggested that the financial circumstances of ex-offenders should receive attention from policy-makers and researchers, because poverty and lack of employment opportunities will increase some people's chances of criminal behavior. Table, notes, and 14 references (Author abstract modified)