Falling Through the Cracks: Supporting People Serving Short-term Prison Sentences (PID276)

9.30am – 10am GMT, 29 October 2026 ‐ 30 mins

Room: Meeting Room 3B (Level 3)

Parallel Workshops

The Prisoner Support Project is an innovative initiative designed to break the cycle of reoffending and reimprisonment among individuals serving short-term prison sentences in Northern Ireland. Recognising that those serving sentences of one year or less often miss opportunities to engage with rehabilitative services, the project was developed to bridge this critical gap. By combining a therapeutic in-prison intervention with intensive ‘through the gate’ community support, it provides a person-centred service to promote rehabilitation and reintegration.

This paper examines the needs of service users, the outcomes they experienced and the challenges associated with service delivery. Using a mixed methods approach, it draws on an analysis of administrative data (n=119), case files (n=51) and interviews (n=16) with service users, family members, staff and partner agencies.

Findings highlight the significant and complex needs of service users, who experienced higher levels of addiction, mental ill-health, homelessness and entrenched offending histories than the general prison population. Despite this, the project achieved meaningful improvements across key areas, including housing stability, mental health, substance use and emotional management. While the transition from custody to the community remained a challenging period, with some temporary setbacks, outcomes improved as individuals obtained greater stability. Importantly, reductions in the frequency and severity of offending behaviour were observed. Central to the project’s success is its flexible, intensive and non-judgemental approach, with committed staff providing practical support, advocacy and crisis intervention. 

Overall, the findings demonstrate that the Prisoner Support Project is making a tangible and positive difference for a highly vulnerable population.

Speakers

Michelle Butler

Professor in Criminology, Queen's University Belfast, United Kingdom

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Michelle Butler

Professor in Criminology, Queen's University Belfast, United Kingdom

Michelle Butler is a Professor of Criminology at Queen’s University Belfast and Co-Director of the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Her primary research interests include imprisonment, penal reform, desistance and criminological psychology. She has a consistent track record of conducting research in prisons, including prisons in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Uganda and Colombia. In recent years, she has investigated prison misconduct, the outcomes people experience in prison, penal policy and prison-based parenting programmes. She has also been involved in projects assessing how a history of conflict may affect penal reform, desistance and reintegration, as well as examining programmes supporting people serving short-term prison sentences.