It is an unfortunate reality that accessing higher education can often present various barriers for people who have experienced prison, despite evidence highlighting how effective it can be at reducing chances of returning to prison.
Higher education has been shown to develop a “hook for change” and can later become a conduit towards a better life for serving and ex-prisoners.
One of the primary challenges to accessing HE for ex-prisoners is the presence of policies and practices that restrict their access. Many providers have policies that require applicants to disclose their criminal history, which can result in automatic disqualification or create significant hurdles in the admissions process. This can perpetuate a cycle of marginalisation and limit opportunities for individuals seeking to rebuild their lives.
For many ex-prisoners there are intersections with other forms of disadvantage, which can further impact on access. A quarter of the prison population have spent time in the care of local authorities, according to the Ministry of Justice, but as potential HE applicants they can fall outside the age limit or remit for many sector-led initiatives targeting care experienced young people.
