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Queen’s research shows Extern-led service can break cycle of repeat offending as service faces closure
Northern Ireland has the highest proportion of short-term prison sentences across the UK and Ireland — with 25.7% of the prison population serving sentences of less than one year, compared with 18% in Scotland, 11% in Ireland and just 5% in England and Wales.
A two-year pilot service delivered by Extern in partnership with the Northern Ireland Prison Service is now showing that this cycle can be broken, according to an independent evaluation by Queen’s University Belfast.
The Prisoner Support Project was established to test whether a community-based, voluntary sector-led model could support people leaving custody with complex needs and reduce their likelihood of returning to prison.
Working with men in HMP Maghaberry serving sentences of less than one year, many of whom leave custody with significant unmet needs, the service provides targeted pre- and post-release support. This includes support with addiction, mental health, homelessness and trauma, alongside building personal strengths and supporting safe reintegration into the community.
Queen’s University’s independent evaluation points to measurable progress in reducing reoffending and improving stability, demonstrating that when people are supported consistently and at the right time, different outcomes are possible.
Prior to the introduction of this service in February 2024, more than half of individuals serving short sentences returned to custody within three months. Without continued support, there is a clear risk of reverting to these patterns.
The model is also significantly more cost-effective than custody, with support delivered in the community at a fraction of the daily cost of a prison place.
Despite this, the project is now approaching a critical point. Funding is due to end on 30 June 2026, and without further investment the service will close.
The findings highlight the opportunity for a sustained, cross-departmental response, recognising that the drivers of reoffending are complex and span justice, health, housing and wider public services.
“This evaluation demonstrates that targeted, community-based support at the point of release can have a measurable impact on reoffending and wider outcomes. It also highlights the importance of sustained, flexible engagement in addressing complex and interrelated needs.”
Emma Purdon, Director of Community Services, Extern, said:
“Many of the people leaving custody are doing so with significant unmet needs – trauma, addiction, poor mental health and a lack of stable housing. Without support, the cycle of return to prison is extremely difficult to break.
“This project has shown that when those realities are understood and addressed through consistent, practical support, people can stabilise and begin to rebuild their lives.
“This is not about quick fixes, it is about responding properly to complex need, at the point where it matters most. The evidence now shows that this approach works.
“The issue now is whether that progress is sustained through a joined-up, cross-departmental commitment recognising that this work delivers outcomes across health, housing and justice, improving wellbeing, reducing harm, preventing homelessness, increasing engagement with treatment, and contributing to reduced reoffending, fewer victims and safer communities.”
Professor Anne Campbell, Queen’s University Belfast, said:
“This evaluation demonstrates that targeted, community-based support at the point of release can have a measurable impact on reoffending and wider outcomes. It also highlights the importance of sustained, flexible engagement in addressing complex and interrelated needs.”