The Community Re-Entry Team (CRT) is based in the Resettlement Suite. Together, with support from external agencies, we play a significant role in the “regeneration of communities”, helping to equip prisoners to lead a better life and remove barriers to opportunity.

The CRT have a very simple philosophy in supporting prisoners in their path toward their departure from the prison – their resettlement begins on the day they arrive. By offering offenders access to employment/training/education and a bond scheme, this enables them to secure accommodation and improve their chances of gaining employment. The programme is supported by numerous external agencies that deliver local ‘surgeries’ to the prisoners. Guidance is available in seeking employment, access to appropriate benefits, accommodation planning and training opportunities.

• The programme supports over 1200 individuals each year.

• Our target is to help achieve a 15 per cent reduction in crime by 2008

• Research from a retrospective audit indicates that 82% of people leaving prison who have utilised their support to gain employment or accommodation have been able to remain in the community.