3 December 2008
Access to current accounts can have a positive effect on the rehabilitation of prisoners, according to the results of a trial run by the Co-operative Bank.
A report into the scheme written by Paul Jones of Liverpool John Moores University concludes that enabling prisoners to open current accounts while serving their sentences can help to reduce re-offending rates, inthenews.co.uk reports.
The trial, which took place in 2006 at Forest Bank Prison in Salford, saw 256 prisoners open basic current accounts into which their wages can be paid.
Of the 193 who have since been released, less than half have returned to prison. David Anderson, Chief Executive of the Co-operative Bank, said: "We understand that access to employment and housing are extremely important factors in reducing the risk of re-offending but these can only be obtained if ex-offenders have bank accounts."
According to Liverpool John Moores University, the Co-operative Bank's trial was initially intended to help ex-offenders find employment on release, but has also played an important role in financial education and capability during rehabilitation.
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