Evaluation of RECONNECT Services for Adult Prison-Leavers

Prison populations have higher rates of health problems than non-prison populations, which are exacerbated by low rates of engagement with community-based healthcare services after release. This poses considerable health risks for prison-leavers, whilst limiting successful rehabilitation and re-entry into society. The RECONNECT service was developed to increase prison-leavers’ access to, and uptake of, healthcare and other relevant services in the community, with this anticipated to have significant benefits for individual prison-leavers and wider society in terms of reduced reoffending and reduced long-term burden on the NHS.

The RECONNECT service has yet to be evaluated, however, and it is important that it is: (i) to ensure that public spending on this programme is justified, and (ii) to identify how prison-leavers can be best supported in their transition from prison to the community.

Funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), Professor Matt Tonkin, Dr Emma Palmer and Dr Ruth Hatcher are leading a national evaluation of the RECONNECT service. Using a range of methods (interviews, surveys, and statistical analysis of administrative data), this project is examining how RECONNECT services are being delivered to see what works well and what doesn’t. The findings will inform the future development and implementation of the RECONNECT service.

The evaluation started in April 2023 and is due for completion in December 2024.