The number of deaths whilst on probation in England and Wales has risen by almost a third in three years.
Last year there were 966 recorded deaths of ex prisoners this is compared to 756 in 2015-16. Around one in three of those deads where self-inflicted. In 2014-15 there were 558 deaths but that was before 40,000 extra offenders were brought under supervision following government reforms.
The arrangements for managing offenders were overhauled in 2014 with the probation service split into two. The National Probation Service (NPS) was set up to supervise the high risk offenders.
Frances Crook, the chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said homelessness and the rise of the drugs such as spice could have contributed to the rise in deaths.
She added: “Whereas before we had a successful publicly-run probation service with qualified and trained staff who saw their mission as befriending and turning lives around, we now have a fragmented service with a tick-box culture where some people have not even met face-to-face.”
In Scotland the work of the probation service is assigned to local authorities; social work departments.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The death of any individual, no matter what the circumstances, while on release under supervision or licence, is regrettable, and our sympathies go to their family and friends.”
The Ministry of Justice said it was investing £22m to support offenders upon release.
A spokesman said: “Our probation reforms were a positive change for public safety, extending supervision and support to approximately 40,000 extra offenders each year – nearly 20% more than in 2014.
“This significant increase in volume, along with the rising age of offenders and improved recording practices, means a great deal of caution is needed when trying to draw conclusions from this data.”
