CJI publishes findings of prisoner resettlement inspection

Brendan McGuigan has called on the NI Prison Service and Probation Board for NI to build on their current collaborative approach to resettlement in order to achieve the best outcomes for prisoners and the community. View report page.

“The path to rehabilitation and reducing risk and the likelihood of reoffending is not an easy one, but partnership working between the NIPS, PBNI and others including health care professionals and voluntary and community sector organisations around resettlement offers the best prospect of success,” said the Chief Inspector.

“There has been much positive change since CJI last inspected this area in 2011, but more needs to be done to ensure the work undertaken with prisoners is evaluated in and outcome-focused way. And links between the role of residential prison staff and resettlement work need further development,” said Mr McGuigan.

In making two strategic and seven operational recommendations for improvement, CJI urged the NIPS and PBNI to carry out a joint study to assess the impact reduced levels of joint working had had on the operation of resettlement work and the model used to deliver it.