Evaluation of Day One Access to the Work Programme for prison leavers and Employment and Reoffending Pilot

The Government embarked on wide-ranging reforms both to the rehabilitation of offenders and to how the most disadvantaged are supported to move into work.

This evaluation comprised two interlinked initiatives (one funded by the Ministry of Justice to reduce re-offending, the other by DWP to promote offenders' movement into work) which, in complementary ways, are seeking to build on the links between offending and worklessness to support rehabilitation and maximise employment.

The evaluation was undertaken by the Work Programme consortium in partnership with the Institute for Criminal Justice Research. IES led the strand of work reviewing ways in which Work Programme providers support and encourage ex-offenders into work. This research encompasses qualitative work with providers, employers and individuals and quantitative research, including a survey of individuals and a management information assessment.