July 10, 2019 11.51 am This story is over 55 months old

Three in ten walk out of Lincoln prison homeless

A vicious cycle of reoffending in the country

In a vicious cycle of reoffending, a new report revealed how three in ten inmates walk out of HMP Lincoln as homeless.

The City of Lincoln Council, who is responsible for finding a place for prisoners upon their release, insisted that they try to offer prisoners the best start possible.

It comes after a report from the Independent Monitoring Board which expressed concern with the high level of homelessness among released prisoners.

St Mungo’s is a UK-based charity which says it works with 9,000 prisoners and ex-offenders every year, which is 45% of the people they work with.

HMP Lincoln. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

It is a story that highlights the plight of some offenders like Teresa Wilson who even asked a judge at Lincoln Crown Court to be jailed earlier this year.

Wilson had been given a community penalty at first for stealing three bottles of gin from a supermarket but made the request before leaving the dock.

Caroline Hannah is the rough sleeper project coordinator at the City of Lincoln Council and told The Lincolnite:  “Our rough sleeper team aims to assess every prisoner’s housing needs prior to their release in order to offer them the best start.

“We ensure that former prisoners receive suitable accommodation in the ‘Somewhere Safe to Stay Hub’, the Nomad Night Shelter or local B&Bs upon their release wherever possible.

“If we find that they don’t have a local connection, we will refer them to their appropriate local authority and assist with travel warrants.”