Money Box Live: Behind Bars

In this special programme Money Box Live has been given exclusive access to a centre working with former prisoners to find out how money works behind bars. There are around 98,000 people serving prison sentences in the UK right now, but how does money work on the inside and why do offenders even need it? Felicity Hannah meets former prisoners working in the centre as they rebuild their lives. They talk about so-called 'bang up' pay, how much you can earn in prison, and the struggle some ex-offenders have getting basic financial products like a bank account on release. Around one third of ex-offenders will go on to reoffend costing taxpayers £18 billion a year as well as causing great distress to victims. So, what role can financial security play in reducing that? Felicity Hannah is joined by Andrea Coady, Head of Policy at Nacro, a social justice charity that works with offenders and Ana Caldeira, in charge of Finance, Benefit and Debt Services at the charity Catch 22, which provides money advice and support to ex-offenders. Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle (This episode was first aired on Radio 4 at 3pm on Wednesday the 2nd of July 2025)