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Rise in deaths of offenders on probation since reforms

Published 15 April, 2019

In April 2019 the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Shared Data Unit reported the number of people dying while on probation in England and Wales had risen by almost a third in three years.

Campaign groups said there had been "institutional indifference" towards offenders released from custody.

A social worker said her job had become "a treadmill of bureaucracy".

The Ministry of Justice said a "great deal of caution was needed when trying to draw conclusions" from its figures.

The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Shared Data Unit analysed Ministry of Justice data from 2015-16 to 2017-18.

It found:

  • Last year 966 deaths of offenders were recorded, compared to 752 in 2015-16
  • About one in three of those deaths were self-inflicted
  • In 2014-15, there were 558 deaths, but that was before 40,000 extra offenders were brought under supervision following government reforms

This piece of content was produced by a regional newspaper reporter working alongside Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ staff.

The Shared Data Unit makes data journalism available to news organisations across the media industry, as part of a partnership between the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ and the News Media Association. Stories generated by the partnership included:

  • The Northern Echo:  15 April 2019
  • The Northern Echo:  15 April 2019
  • Essex: The Gazette:  15 April 2019
  • Basildon: Yellow Advertiser:  15 April 2019
  • Bradford Telegraph & Argus:  15 April 2019
  • Teesside Live:  15 April 2019
  • Nottinghamshire Live:  15 April 2019
  • Leicestershire Live:  15 April 2019
  • Cornish Stuff:  15 April 2019
  • York: The Press:  16 April 2019

The story was also used by , Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Tees, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Kent, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Surrey and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Sussex.

Get the data

Background and briefing