New analysis from Ministry of Justice shows Open University study reduces reoffending amongst prison learners

Posted on 29 January 2026 • University news

New 2026 data from the Ministry of Justice’s Justice DataLab confirms that studying with The Open University (OU) continues to deliver significant reductions in reoffending amongst prison learners, reaffirming the OU’s longstanding impact on rehabilitation.  

Reoffending remains one of the most costly and persistent challenges facing the UK justice system. The latest official data from the Ministry of Justice (2019) showed that reoffending cost the UK an estimated £18.1 billion per year, with 2024/2025 adjusted estimates at around £22.7 billion, placing significant pressure on public services, communities, and victims (gov.uk). 

Despite sustained policy focus, over a quarter (25-27%) of offenders in England and Wales go on to reoffend within a year, according to the most recent national statistics (gov.uk). These figures highlight the urgent need for evidence-based rehabilitation interventions that reduce crime, improve safety, and create long-term savings for taxpayers.   

The Justice DataLab’s recent analysis examined 4,624 prison learners who took part in OU higher education programmes between 1986 and 2023.  

Key findings include: 

• Prisoners who have engaged in OU study are 22% less likely to reoffend within a year of release than similar prisoners who have not 

• Prisoners who have engaged in OU study commit 37% fewer offences within a year of release 

The Open University emphasises that while the results remain strongly positive, the impact of education has been hampered in recent years by external pressures such as the pandemic, staff shortages, and the prison overcrowding crisis.  

To ensure more prisoners can benefit from lifechanging higher education, the OU is calling for policy changes to improve digital access in prisons, strengthen post-release study support, and extend student loan eligibility. 

Professor David Phoenix, Vice-Chancellor of The Open University, said:

“Evidence continues to show that rehabilitation must sit at the heart of an effective justice system. Education gives individuals the power to transform their own lives, and the Justice DataLab’s findings, including a baseline 22% reduction in reoffending among those who study with the OU, demonstrate the real human impact that learning can have, as well as the potential for meaningful benefits to the public purse. 

“If government were to strengthen support for access to education in prisons, the positive outcomes for individuals, communities and the wider justice system could be considerable. The Open University remains committed to ensuring that people, regardless of their circumstances, have the opportunity to build a more positive future through education.” 

Lord Timpson OBE, Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, added: 

“Education in prison is vital for rehabilitation as it provides hope for an alternative future. I am fully supportive of prisoners having a wide range of educational opportunities, including higher-level study, and this report shows that this is particularly powerful for individuals and reduces the likelihood of reoffending.”