Prisoners released into homelessness surges by a third in a year

New government figures reveal a 30% increase in the number of people released from prison into homelessness, despite efforts through a major housing scheme for departing offenders.

The dire state of prisons in England and Wales is outlined, including record levels of self-harm, violence, and overcrowding, reflecting a crisis of human misery behind bars.

Release of over 10,000 prisoners early to ease overcrowding has contributed to a 30% rise in inmates left homeless, with 9,210 released into homelessness or rough sleeping in the year to March.

Experts warn that homelessness raises the risk of reoffending by approximately 50%, undermining efforts to alleviate prison crowding and posing a continuous cycle back to incarceration.

Read at www.independent.co.uk