Research and analysis
Impact of Social Visits in Prison
Impact of prison visits on reoffending, self-harm and housing post-release, using matched analysis across time, frequency and demographics.
Applies to England and Wales
Documents
Details
This analysis evaluated the impact of social visits in prison on three key outcomes: reoffending, self-harm, and securing accommodation upon release. It also examined variations across key subgroups, including time periods (pre, during, and post COVID-19), visit frequency, and demographic characteristics (age, sex, and ethnicity). To ensure robust and credible findings, the analysis employed a well-established impact evaluation method (propensity score matching) to compare individuals who received visits with a matched group who did not.
Updates to this page
Published 20 March 2026