With current high reoffending rates, prison leavers face neglect when seeking to reintegrate into society due to insufficient digital skills, according to the Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA).
Government statistics It reveals that the recidivism rate is currently 26 per cent, and has increased since 2021. The DPA believes that schemes such as Tech4PrisonLeavers would significantly reduce reoffending rates by equipping ex-offenders with essential skills to make them an asset to society and employers.
The Darfur Peace Agreement highlights the urgent need for all agencies to provide support and training to help ex-offenders secure employment, as digital skills have proven to be a critical factor in this struggle, while also calling on the government to ensure prisons provide adequate access to digital skills and modern technology before release.
Elizabeth Anderson, CEO, Digital Poverty Alliance “The Tech4PrisonLeavers initiative represents a transformative step towards breaking the cycle of recidivism by directly addressing the digital disconnect that many prison leavers experience,” he said.
“By equipping them with essential digital skills, we open up a world of employment opportunities that were previously out of reach, promoting not only economic independence, but also confidence and empowerment. Ex-offenders are often left feeling neglected in the workplace, but this holistic approach does It only benefits individuals; it impacts broader systemic changes, making our society more inclusive and reducing the likelihood of individuals returning to prison.
The DPA launched the Tech4PrisonLeavers pilot project and enrolled a total of 23 men who participated in the digital literacy surveys and 11 of whom completed the psychological scale surveys. The results revealed that five of the prison leavers obtained employment during the “time period,” and 35 conducted mock interviews with potential employers, which resulted in requests for CVs.
Psychological surveys assessed the well-being, competence and aspirations of the candidates and the results revealed an improvement in the well-being of participants throughout the project. The Tech4PrisonsLeavers program enhanced feelings of competence regarding future employment, increased aspirations for personal growth, and improved self-assessed digital literacy.
Throughout the programme, there were virtual online workshops including CV preparation and mini-courses on digital awareness, safety and ethics available to participants who earned digital badges upon completing a certain number of courses. The program is designed to meet the unique needs of prison leaders and help them exit the digital divide.
The overall outcome of the Tech4PrisonLeavers program was considered a notable success in many areas, as the project focused on digital literacy, which is a key factor in reducing recidivism.