Justice system ignores housing situation on entry and housing need on exit

Pre-custody addresses and type of housing people are
released to is not recorded 

An OIA request to the Ministry of Justice identified that data on housing situations and needs for those entering and exiting a justice facility is not a requirement.  

Individuals do not have to declare their housing situation. If individuals do declare housing data, there is an absence of a centralised database to capture this information. Currently, the information that is declared is not currently collated as it is not seen as an appropriate use of publicly funded resources.    

It is critically important to understand the housing situation of a person being released from a justice facility. As research conducted by Alice Mills, University of Auckland, proves, there is a huge benefit when people are released to stable housing, specifically in terms of lower rates of re-offending. Housing was rated by former prisoners as the hardest issue to resolve after release, and the data showed those experiencing unstable housing post-release were 4.6 times more likely to be re-imprisoned within a year.  (Going Straight Home? Post-prison housing experiences and the role of stable housing in reducing reoffending in Aotearoa New Zealand) 

This demonstrates the critical importance of collecting data both when people enter and exit the justice system to inform an appropriate response to ensure housing stability, as secure housing is a proven key factor in reducing reoffending rates. 

Data source: OIA declines from Ministry of Justice.