Ex-prisoners, homelessness and the state in Australia

Abstract

Australia, with other OECD countries, has experienced a rapid rise in numbers of prison releasees. With this, there is heightened interest in the social impact of more prisoners returning to the community. International research has consistently indicated that suitable housing is a vital factor in ex-prisoners’ social integration. This project investigated whether and to what extent ex-prisoner housing and associated social factors are important to integration in Australia, specifically New South Wales and Victoria, where no reliable prior research on this matter had been done. Analyses indicated: significant differences between States; chronic homelessness, poverty and lack of support in the participants’ lives; and that accommodation instability is a predictor of return to prison. Justice system policy implications are discussed.