A Guardian investigation has uncovered that the number of people dying within two weeks of being released from prison in England and Wales has reached a record high. In 2025, 77 individuals died within 14 days of release, a 28% increase from the 60 deaths recorded in the previous year, marking the highest figure since records began in 2021.
Homelessness as a Primary Driver
Experts highlight that a primary driver of this crisis is the rising number of prisoners released into homelessness. Analysis of Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) reports shows that one in four people who died were released homeless. Separate Ministry of Justice data indicates that nearly 13,000 individuals left prison homeless or as rough sleepers in the year to April 2025, a 39% increase from the previous year. Many fall through what experts call 'trap doors to crisis' due to a lack of available housing.
Case Studies Highlighting the Crisis
The reports detail tragic cases, such as Robert Barraclough, who died the day after his release from HMP Nottingham in October 2022 at age 47. He had expressed fear of sleeping in a tent in the cold and began self-harming in prison. Another case is Darren Docherty, 48, who had a history of mental ill health and self-harm. He died by suicide six days after release from HMP Stoke Heath in August 2023, having told his GP that the stress of homelessness was affecting his mental health. He had been living in a tent after being denied emergency accommodation by the council.
Experts Call for Action
Enver Solomon, chief executive of the social justice charity Nacro, described these deaths as a 'hidden tragedy.' He stated, 'People come out of prison, they die and it goes unnoticed. These deaths are avoidable. We shouldn't see it as an inevitable consequence of people with a range of issues.' Solomon emphasized that having a safe and secure place to live, along with proper support, can be a matter of life or death. He noted that shortages of social and supported housing, along with the inaccessibility of the private rented sector, leave many with nowhere to go. 'We come across people who commit offences to get back into custody for respite, because they know they will have a roof over their head, food, medical access, and substance misuse support,' he added.
Underestimation and Broader Context
The total number of people released homeless before dying is likely an underestimation, as over 100 PPO reports are still under investigation. Since September 2021, a total of 308 deaths have been recorded within 14 days of release. While no directly comparable data exists before 2021, research from 2019 showed an annual increase in deaths under post-release supervision from 2014. The charity Inquest reported 2,297 deaths between 2010 and 2019 amid major probation service changes.
Ministry of Justice data also reveals that the number of prisoners on licence being recalled to prison reached a record high of 14,349 in October to December last year. A quarter of these recalls were for 'failure to reside,' meaning the released prisoner was not living at an approved address.
Voices from the Affected
Pavan Dhaliwal, chief executive of Revolving Doors, a charity working with repeat offenders, stated that secure housing is 'the one core element to any form of rehabilitation.' She criticized the system: 'Prisons are overcrowded, and you're sending people back because they lack accommodation. It is absurd. The prison gates should be a bridge into rehabilitation, but instead, they are a trap door into cycles of crisis and crime.'
The charity works with individuals like Stephen*, 31, who has been imprisoned dozens of times over the past decade, often recalled for not living at an approved address. He described being released with little money and no support: 'They were releasing me sometimes with a fiver in my pocket and putting me out on the streets. I would only be out for two or three days. Sometimes I got arrested the same night. I slept on the streets a lot, in doorways around town.' His unstable living situation often pushed him back into crime, as he couldn't find employment without a home or shower facilities. Stephen noted that despite trying to access housing support in the last eight weeks of his sentence, waiting lists were so long that he received no help. 'Some people get out and have their own house, but if you're a single lad with nothing, you've lost family ties and nobody wants to know you,' he said.
*Name changed to protect anonymity.
