To ask the Minister of Justice for her assessment of the impact that suitable bail accommodation has had on prison population.

There are a range of socio-economic factors that have an impact on reoffending, including poverty and social deprivation, mental health issues, addictions, homelessness, and a lack of educational attainment and employment opportunities. These factors contribute to people becoming involved in crime in the first place and are often exacerbated through contact with the criminal justice system, leading to a cycle of offending which can cause significant harm to victims and communities.

Management information captured by Court Service indicates that a small percentage of defendants are refused bail by the Courts due to having no suitable accommodation. Information disclosed by individuals upon committal to prison, both on remand and sentenced, indicates that the availability of stable accommodation may be a significant issue. 33% of those committed to Maghaberry during 2023 had either come from temporary arrangements with a friend or family member; a hostel; had been living on the streets; or in a night shelter.

Evidence indicates that one of the critical success factors in desistance from reoffending is the provision of stable accommodation on release. It is for this reason that NIPS takes a proactive approach to preventing homelessness by ensuring all prisoners assessed as having accommodation needs are provided with appropriate advice and interventions. Our aim is to ensure that, as far as reasonably practicable, appropriate accommodation, temporary or permanent, and associated support services are in place for each person leaving custody.