'No two prisoners are the same': 6 ways we can break the UK prison system's cycle of failure

The UK’s prison system seems to be stuck in a cycle of failure, where the more prisons we build, the more we seem to need. Despite good intentions, the prison population continues to rise, and the costs, both social and financial, are escalating at an alarming rate.  

The question is: What is the future of prison rehabilitation programmes, and how can we break this cycle? 

The human element 

Research shows that a significant proportion of prisoners lack role models, positive influences and supportive networks. During their time in prison, these individuals often struggle with ambition and hope, which directly impacts their ability to engage with rehabilitation programmes and staff. Low well-being, poor engagement, and limited cooperation further compound the problem, making it difficult for prisoners to participate in education and skills building programmes that could help them upon release. 

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However, the real challenge lies in what happens after release. Prisoners who leave the system without meaningful rehabilitation, a sense of purpose, or hope are likely to fall back into criminal behaviour. In addition to unemployment and mental health issues, many face housing instability: in 2023, 12% of prison leavers in England and Wales (8,355 people) were released from custody straight into rough sleeping; three months after their release, more than 3,000 were still sleeping on the streets. Without support, prison leavers often find themselves back in the same environments that led them to prison in the first place, perpetuating a cycle of criminality. 

It’s important to recognise that no two prisoners are the same. Each individual comes into the system with their own unique set of challenges and experiences. Addressing these issues requires personalised and targeted interventions that go beyond the one-size-fits-all approach of current prison rehabilitation programmes. 

The rising population of prisons 

To fully understand the scale of the challenge, it’s important to look at the numbers. In England and Wales, the prison population has quadrupled since 1900, with significant growth occurring after 1990. Scotland’s prison population has nearly doubled since 1990, and Northern Ireland has seen a 58% increase in its prison population since 2000. This growth highlights a fundamental problem: incarceration alone is not an effective deterrent or solution to crime. Instead of rehabilitation and reintegration, we are merely cycling individuals through a system that is increasingly overburdened and under-resourced. 

The key issue is that prisons don’t change; prisoners do. If the aim is to improve prisons, the focus must be on rehabilitating the people inside them. The issues within prisons are human ones: individuals who have often been failed by society, whether through lack of opportunity, education or positive role models. Many prisoners enter the system with few life skills, low self-esteem and little hope for the future, and yet we expect them to reintegrate into society without addressing these fundamental deficits. 

Intergenerational impact: children of prisoners 

Children of incarcerated parents are at a significantly higher risk of following in their footsteps. Studies show that these children are up to three times more likely to end up in prison compared to children whose parents were never incarcerated. This is not just a reflection of criminal behaviour, but also of the environment these children grow up in: unstable family dynamics, poor educational outcomes, and the absence of positive role models. 

Breaking this intergenerational cycle is critical if we are to reduce the overall prison population in the long term. Providing targeted support for the families of prisoners, particularly their children, is a vital step in preventing future generations from entering the criminal justice system. 

Radical change required to tackle reoffending 

Many ex-prisoners are released back into society without the necessary skills, support, or opportunities to make a fresh start, and as a result, they often return to crime out of necessity or a lack of alternatives. 

Stigma and discrimination against former prisoners only make matters worse, further marginalising individuals who are already struggling to reintegrate. Without access to employment, housing, or community support, the odds are stacked against them. For many, it becomes a question of survival, and the easiest path is to return to the behaviours that led to their imprisonment in the first place. 

The future of prison rehabilitation must focus on comprehensive support that addresses the root causes of criminal behaviour. This includes not only educational and vocational training but also mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and social reintegration programmes. Former prisoners need more than just a second chance, they need the tools and resources to make that chance count. 

A new approach: rehabilitation, not incarceration

If incarceration alone is not the answer, what is? Based on over a decade working in some of the UK’s most challenging communities, in prisons, with the DWP, and in specialist and mainstream education, I am clear that the future of prison rehabilitation lies in restorative justice, education, and community-based support. Instead of simply locking people away, we must focus on restoration and reintegration, helping individuals rebuild their lives and reconnect with society in a meaningful way. This requires a shift in mindset: moving away from a punitive approach to one that prioritises rehabilitation, human dignity, and hope. 

Successful rehabilitation programmes, like the recent Counting on Confidence programme (which received £103,719.75 from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund) piloted in three UK prisons, have been shown to reduce reoffending rates, lower the cost to taxpayers, and improve overall community safety. By focusing on the human element, helping individuals find purpose, build skills, and reconnect with their families and communities, we can break the cycle of crime and incarceration. 

Costs, however calculated, are too high 

The prison system in the UK currently costs the taxpayer approximately £5bn annually, and the cost of reoffending adds an additional £18bn each year. Despite these staggering numbers, the system has not yet found a solution to reduce reoffending rates or improve the long-term prospects of prisoners after release. Each year, around 70,000 men are released from UK prisons, and of those, 48% will reoffend within the first year. Perhaps most worrying is the fact that only 17% of prisoners are employed upon release, demonstrating a clear failure to equip individuals with the skills and support needed to reintegrate into society successfully. 

The future of prison rehabilitation programmes must be one that focuses on restoration, not punishment. As the prison population continues to rise, the costs, both financial and human, are becoming unsustainable. If we are to create a safer, fairer society, we must invest in programmes that rehabilitate prisoners, restore their dignity, and help them reintegrate into society. 

Sid Madge is the founder of Meee and author of the Meee in a Minute books. 

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