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<p>In our response to the Health and Social Care Select Committee the Government committed
to undertake a review of deaths under post release supervision during 2019-20. Scoping
work has been undertaken, and the full review is on track to be completed within this
time period. This is in addition to the existing requirement on all probation providers
to conduct an internal review following each death, and to share learning from these
reviews.</p><p> </p><p>The number of deaths of offenders under post-release supervision
decreased from 401 in 2016/17 to 367 in 2017/18, a fall of 8%. The National Suicide
Prevention Strategy identifies people in contact with the criminal justice system
as a high-risk group, and we recognise that the time following release from prison
can be a particularly high-risk period for suicide and for deaths from other causes.
The primary role of probation is to protect the public and prevent re-offending, and
people under supervision in the community are not in the care of HM Prison and Probation
Service in the way that they are when in custody. While probation staff do everything
they can to help offenders find access to vital services including healthcare, housing,
and treatment for drug and alcohol problems, they do not have sole responsibility
for caring for them. The national review aims to identify what further actions may
be appropriate to prevent offenders’ deaths, while recognising that a range of other
organisations share responsibility for their wellbeing.</p><p> </p><p>We are also
investing an extra £22m in ‘through-the-gate’ assistance for offenders, to help them
find the support they need on issues such as housing, healthcare and employment, and
they have the same access to these services as any other person in the community.</p>
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