How the arts can help to break the cycle of offending
The arts can play an important role in supporting the criminal justice system, including preventative work, input in prisons and at the time of resettlement following release. 

The arts play an important role in the delivery of learning and skills, by providing opportunities for offenders to increase their self-confidence and communication skills. Arts activities can also contribute to the mental well-being of offenders. These benefits can help divert people away from pathways into crime and break the cycle of re-offending.

This is important because the cycle of offending continues to see more and more offenders returning to prison to serve second and third sentences; in the last 10 years the prison population has increased by 48 percent. 

Arts organisations offer a variety of routes towards rehabilitation through drama, music, dance, creative writing, storytelling, technology and visual media in both custody and the community. 

What can the arts do? 
The 2005 "Doing the arts justice” report, part commissioned by DCMS, found that arts based projects in the criminal justice system contributed significantly to changes in offending behaviour. 

Outcomes of art interventions
Outcomes included: 

• Individuals changed their response to the triggers that led them to offend
• Individuals built different relationships, helping them access work and education
• Enriched institutional culture and working practices
• Changes to wider community views of offenders and the criminal justice system

Why funding for the arts in criminal justice is important
We support funding for the arts in criminal justice because any reduction in the rate of crime, improves the quality of life for every British citizen, helping to create safer communities.

It currently costs £65,000 to reconvict and £35,000 for each year an offender is in prison; arts based initiatives may help to reduce these costs.

Want to find out more?

• Find out more about the review, "Doing the arts justice”
• "The Arts in criminal justice: A study of research feasibility" report (December 2006) investigates the cultural and practical barriers to carrying out robust research on the effectiveness of arts programmes on the rehabilitation of offenders.
• Find out what the Government is doing to address offending by young people here: Youth Justice Board
• Find out what is happening at the innovative Anne Peaker Centre for Arts in Criminal Justice