Rehabilitating Scotland : Exploring the Impact of Mentoring-based Throughcare

In recent years, a pressing issue for both the UK and Scottish Governments has been the steadily increasing prison population and, in particular, the rise in the male prison population. In Scotland, whilst there are a number of factors that play into high prison populations, one of the reasons is the relatively high reoffending rate. In 2019 28.3% of individuals sentenced were reconvicted within a year of their original sentence. This rate has been relatively flat since the late 1990s. There is, therefore, strong interest in understanding the extent to which the right support and interventions, including adequate throughcare upon release from prison, can break a cycle of reoffending. The main aim of the New Routes programme is to reduce reoffending in Scotland by supporting individuals to reintegrate into their communities beyond their prison sentence and build a sustainable future through inclusion in society. The scheme provides mentoring and support six months pre-release and post-release from prison