bbc-data-unit / deaths-on-probation

Rise in deaths of offenders on probation since reforms

Rise in deaths of offenders on probation since reforms

In April 2019 the BBC 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 BBC'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 BBC staff.

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

• The Northern Echo: Probation reforms criticised after hundreds die while under supervision 15 April 2019
• The Northern Echo: Opinion: Probation is not working 15 April 2019
• Essex: The Gazette: Sodexo chief says he cannot be 'responsible for someone’s life on probation' 15 April 2019
• Basildon: Yellow Advertiser: Essex probation company defends record as suicides and homicides shoot up after privatisation 15 April 2019
• Bradford Telegraph & Argus: Number of people who died while on probation increases by 138% 15 April 2019
• Teesside Live: More and more offenders are dying when they leave prison - with 'self-inflicted' deaths on the rise 15 April 2019
• Nottinghamshire Live: Number of people dying after leaving prison has risen over the last four years 15 April 2019
• Leicestershire Live: Number of people dying after leaving prison leaps in 4 years since private companies took over probation roles 15 April 2019
• Cornish Stuff: News Insight: Probation deaths rise in an “irredeemably flawed” system 15 April 2019
• York: The Press: Shock offender death figures revealed 16 April 2019
• Yorkshire Evening Post: Why campaigners are "extremely concerned" by these deaths of people under probation supervision in West Yorkshire 16 April 2019
• Planet Radio: Hallam FM: Calls for investigations into the rising number of probation deaths in South Yorkshire 17 April 2019
• Northampton Chronicle & Echo: Fears Northamptonshire's probation service is 'failing' offenders after death rate triples 17 April 2019
• Daventry Express: Fears Northamptonshire's probation service is 'failing' offenders after death rate triples 17 April 2019
• Rochdale Online: Number of deaths whilst on probation highest in the north west 24 April 2019

The story was also used by South East Today, BBC Tees, BBC Radio Kent, BBC Surrey and BBC Sussex.

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Background and briefing

• A full briefing pack on the story can be found here