Prison life choice?

Has he ever worked and if so what sort of work? Does he have any skills or qualifications? In addition to 'offender friendly' companies I've certainly found employment agencies that will provide work for some ex offenders.

OP has he tried to get a job through the job centre or a work coach while claiming universal credits? While prison or probation won’t currently do much in the way of education and employment, there are other services that can. But it sounds as though it’s not so much a lack of services but more his motivation. Sometimes, if someone is not ready to change their lifestyle, no amount of external support can change them.
If he knows you are there to support him, if and when he is ready he will know where to turn. But until then, nothing anyone can offer will have any real effect.

There has to be a want to change or it will never happen. You say how can he go on without having his basic needs met, like the rest of us, you work and you meet your own needs, benefits are there to be claimed if it's a low paid job. You need to claim them though

He'll have a probation officer allocated to him. They are excellent at signposting. Maybe arrange to speak with them when he comes out and explain your concerns.

It's a shame they can't offer them the option of military service for low level non violent crimes, same institutional benefits, food, board, instant community, learn a trade etc. Although can some different but similar issues when returning to civvy street.

Erm I didn’t. This wasn’t a political post. I was simply pointing out that both the prison and the probation service have less time than ever to work with prisoners and very soon, most short sentence prisoners such as the man OP is discussing will be out at the 40% mark, being handed over to a probation service that is only seeing high risk offenders for weekly supervision. That has just been brought in. By the new government. Thats the facts.
How exactly is stating a fact ‘blaming the new government’?
The point I was trying to make is that the OP says the ‘system’ should see to his ‘basic needs’. What basic needs does she think HMPPS can provide when people who commit crime will be in less contact with the criminal justice system than ever.

Whose ‘fault’ that is was not discussed by me at all.

I never knew going to prison for a small thing could totally ruin your life
What was his life like before prison, op? Was he in education; did he have a job and somewhere to live?

Perhaps he believes being in Prison is a better alternative than being on the streets. At least there he gets 3 hot meals and a bed.

Could the “National Association for the care and resettlement of offenders” help? “Www.nacro.org.uk”.

St Giles Trust is a charity that might be able to help www.stgilestrust.org.uk/

Has he had any training in prison?

I worked in drug intervention and offender management for years. The reasons why some people keep returning to prison are many and complex.

I used to work with a number of young people who really struggled to manage life on their own. They'd offend so they could go back to prison where there were clear boundaries, 3 meals a day and guaranteed accommodation. It's a sign of being institutionalised and a sign of trauma. Really they need to provide him with extensive therapy to work out where this is stemming from and he needs to be leaving prison with a clear care package to help him sustain life in the community. Plus a job and a new support network. It's incredibly difficult.

Quite! It's a bit soon to blame Starmer for everything after 14 years of Tory chaos.

He needs a fresh start somewhere new away from his peers.

Prison isn't that bad for some of them. Sometimes they see their mates, get fed and watered, have a tv to watch, get drugs. It's often better than their life outside so that's why it's no deterrent.

Release preparation is virtually non-existent; educational opportunities are sporadic. It's another of those underfunded and under-staffed statutory services.

The sort of services that might have stopped him getting into this pattern in the first place also fall into that category.

Private rentals are incredibly hard to come by. In the area where I work there is a queue of perhaps 15 people for each rental and ex-offenders will be at the bottom. But I have worked with people who have been housed by the council (took a long time) and also people who have got lucky and found landlords who specifically want to help ex-offenders. It's hard, very hard, but not impossible.

Btw the website I mentioned is unlock.org.uk.

It will take ages for him to find a bed sit he can afford and he won't be priority for council housing as he has a home

Yes people need to want to change but they also need huge support to allow this change to happen and the system just isn't there. I work for a charity trying to provide support for people straight out of prison and the odds are heavily stacked against them. Housing, employment, mental health and substance abuse support etc etc. In the end it's the easiest option for many to re-offend.

I would offer him a sofa as a starting point. Then get him signed on. It is possible to find work (I've supported people in doing this) but it is very hard. And look at whether he might have some chance of being eligible for council housing (needs a local connection). That's a game changer if you can get council housing.

And look at a website called unlocked for lots of good info including ex-offender friendly employers.

Good luck.

Errrm you completely missed the point of my post

Redemption roasters is another business you could look at if in london

I listened to an excellent prison podcast a couple of years ago that may help with an insight into what how your nephew has been living /things that may help him. It's called Banged Up