Probation
"Half of those surveyed in 2016 said they would not consider employing an ex-offender."

Allan Appleby is senior probation officer and head of offender management at Winchester Prison.

“Our role is to monitor the risk a man might pose to others and himself both in prison and on release, and to manage that risk accordingly to give him the best chance of reforming.”

Typically, a man will serve half of his custodial sentence in prison.
“Licence under probation supervision allows prisoners to serve time out of prison in the community in a restricted way for the remainder of that sentence.

“Licence conditions may include a curfew, banned contact with named individuals or restrictions on the sort of work they can undertake. Regular meetings with community offender managers are a requirement, as well as home visits. Ongoing treatment for addictions like drugs or alcohol may also be agreed terms, or study for a work-based qualification.”

Returning to society is not easy.

“The prison discharge grant – handed to adult inmates once they leave – is around £76. Most benefits do not kick in straight away. Finding housing is difficult. Finding employment is even more difficult. More of the offenders we work with on short sentences return to prison than don’t.”