A research report published by the Wales Governance Centre at Cardiff University reveals that drug-related deaths account for a substantial portion of mortality among prison leavers supervised by probation services in Wales. The data showed that 37% of all deaths in this population during 2024-25 were drug-related, with 19 of 52 deaths classified as drug poisonings with undetermined intent. This rate exceeded the corresponding figure for England and Wales combined, where drug-related deaths represented just over one-fifth of the 620 total deaths recorded, or 131 cases in the undetermined category.
Report author Dr Robert Jones characterized the findings as revealing “systematic failures” within the criminal justice system and called for coordinated efforts to address what he described as a “tragic” situation. He noted that criminal justice matters in Wales fall under Westminster’s jurisdiction, while many related policy areas—including substance abuse support, housing, education, and local government—are devolved to the Welsh government. This structural arrangement, Jones argued, creates gaps in policy coordination and prevents comprehensive solutions to the underlying causes of prison leaver mortality.
The report also documented additional challenges facing former prisoners in Wales. Homelessness among this population continued to rise, with the number of individuals recorded as rough sleeping upon release increasing by 24% in 2025-26, totaling 695 people. The data further showed that women receiving custodial sentences in Wales faced particular disparities, with 39% of such sentences in 2025 related to shop theft offenses. Racial disparities in the prison population persisted, with black individuals from Wales incarcerated at a rate of 58 per 10,000 population compared to 15 per 10,000 for white individuals.
Both the Welsh and UK governments responded to the report’s findings. The Welsh government stated it was working with health boards and local authorities to reduce harms from substance misuse and suggested the data strengthened the case for devolved justice powers. The UK government reported investing £3.4m in services supporting prison leavers in addressing addiction. However, views on devolution varied, with some officials arguing that devolving justice matters would improve outcomes, while others pointed to higher drug death rates in devolved Scotland as evidence against that approach.
Stakeholders including homelessness charities and parliamentary committees emphasized the need for coordinated approaches treating drug use as a health rather than purely criminal justice issue. The report’s findings prompted calls for improved Wales-specific data collection and comprehensive policy responses addressing housing, health, and justice services in tandem.
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