Limited data on housing situations at entry to and exit from the justice system

Housing situations prior to custody and on release are not consistently recorded

Information gathered across agencies indicates that housing situations and needs are not consistently captured for people entering and exiting the justice system. While some information may be recorded, there is no centralised approach to collecting or reporting this data.  

Understanding housing situations at the point of release is important. Research indicates that stable housing is associated with improved outcomes, including lower rates of reoffending. Housing has also been identified as one of the most significant challenges for people leaving custody. Research suggests that people experiencing unstable housing after release may be significantly more likely to return to custody within a year (Going Straight Home? Post-prison housing experiences and the role of stable housing in reducing reoffending in Aotearoa New Zealand) .

These findings highlight the importance of strengthening data collection at both entry to and exit from the justice system. Improving visibility of housing situations would support more informed responses and help improve housing stability outcomes.

Data source: Cross-agency data, including information requests across the justice system