Prison leavers are being neglected due to lack of digital skills. It's time for change

In today’s digital-first world, access to the internet is not merely a convenience. It has become a fundamental aspect of societal integration and equal opportunity – it is essential for everyday life. This reality is starkly evident in the challenges faced by former prisoners re-entering society, who are often thrust into a digital landscape that can be both intimidating and unforgiving.

Those leaving the prison system often face considerable barriers, from accessing essential online services – whether finding housing or accessing mental health support  – to finding employment in a job market where opportunities are predominantly listed online. This not only hampers their ability to secure employment but also impacts their potential for a stable, law-abiding life post-incarceration.

The vital importance of digital skills in a job market where 90% of vacancies are only posted online is clear, yet this is just the beginning of the equation for reintegrating former prisoners. Beyond acquiring fundamental digital skills, these individuals also urgently need access to a reliable internet connection and a functional laptop.

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Without these essential tools, many ex-offenders are left stranded on the outskirts of the digital economy, deepening their isolation and compounding the barriers they face in rebuilding their lives. The systems around probation and access to welfare assume universal digital access, meaning those who cannot afford a device and connectivity, or lack the skills, are likely to face sanctions for failing to complete tasks required of them.

The Digital Poverty Alliance’s Tech4PrisonLeavers project has played a vital role in addressing this critical yet frequently overlooked aspect of our social fabric, focusing specifically on prison leavers in the West Midlands, and then London and the south east of England.

The pilot project provided a crucial lifeline. In London, of the twenty-three men who committed to the programme, fifteen successfully completed it, with some securing employment. The varied levels of digital literacy among the participants highlighted the necessity for personalised educational approaches, ensuring that each individual could benefit fully from the training provided.

The insights and recommendations from this initiative have been compiled in a white paper published by the Digital Poverty Alliance, based on independent evaluation. Serving as a blueprint for scaling the successes achieved and addressing the challenges encountered, this document offers insights that could fundamentally shift the support structures for not only former prisoners but any marginalised community facing similar digital barriers.

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Looking ahead, our collective response should involve recognising and treating digital literacy as a fundamental right, akin to education and healthcare, and as essential as reading and numeracy. This involves comprehensive support from the Ministry of Justice and the Prison Service, extending beyond mere access to devices. It necessitates a broad spectrum of digital education, robust pre-release training, and sustained post-release support to ensure successful societal reintegration.

Enhancing collaborations with employers and probation services are not just strategic moves but moral imperatives. These efforts are essential for creating a society that truly rehabilitates and integrates its members, rather than one that risks cycling them back through the prison system.

Initiatives like Tech4PrisonLeavers are not merely beneficial but essential. They act as pillars of what can be achieved when societal efforts are channelled towards empowerment rather than marginalisation. Addressing the digital divide does more than solve a logistical challenge. It heals a social rift, offering a genuine second chance to those who, having paid their debt to society, deserve no less than a fair start.

Elizabeth Anderson is chief executive of the Digital Poverty Alliance.

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