Prisons have rarely been out of the news in recent months, with much of the debate focused, understandably, on capacity, early release and the pressure facing the justice system. These are difficult issues and there are no easy answers. But if we only talk about prison places, release dates and the cost of custody, we risk missing a more important question: what happens next?

For too many people leaving prison, the route back into society is fragile. Without stable work, structure and a credible path forward, the risk of reoffending remains far too high. That is a human cost, but it is also a cost borne by the public purse, by communities and by a justice system already under pressure.