But that is not the case for inmates at Norwich prison, where Damerell has helped offenders into employment after creating a work experience programme with the local shopping centre.
Since it was set up two years ago, 80% of the 89 offenders who have completed the eight-week scheme left prison with a job lined up – more than double the national rate. And of that group, only one has reoffended since being released from prison.
Damerell says: "Prisoners do really want to change their lives, but quite often they aren't given the opportunity to prove themselves. If you can get prisoners on that first step then you can also reduce the reoffending rate, which also benefits victims of crime."
When the scheme was first developed with the Chapelfield shopping centre, just a 20-minute walk from the male prison, offenders were involved in reopening its waste recycling plant, collecting and sorting rubbish from the centre shops. The experience not only boosted the prisoners' own employment skills and confidence, but helped to reduce the amount of rubbish from the complex that was sent to landfill, cutting it from 37 tonnes a month to just three. Today, offenders can be found at Chapelfield working as part of the maintenance and cleaning teams, as well as alongside customer service staff at the centre's information desk.
Damerell, 48, who joined the service 20 years ago, says retailers have been keen to get involved with the scheme even when they knew the criminal background of the offenders, who are all low-risk prisoners with a varied criminal history, from drug-related offences to burglary.
He says: "There is 100% disclosure – everybody knows the prisoner's offence. I've had no adverse comments from the retailers; all of them are fully on board."
The work experience programme has been so successful that Damerell is recruiting more local employers to the scheme, while other prisons from across the county are hoping to copy the Norwich model.
Damerell has also helped establish a volunteering programme at the 767-inmate prison in partnership with local charities and other community groups. Every month the prison declares a community day where a group of offenders, as part of their rehabilitation, spend time outside the prison doing voluntary work alongside prison officers and other volunteers and charity workers.
He says: "The benefit to the prisoners is that they get to mix with normal people outside of the prison environment as part of a group all working together." Since Damerell set up the scheme prisoners from Norwich have clocked up 85,848 volunteering hours between them.
Damerell has worked in resettlement for 10 years and has no plans for a career change. "Having a job on release from prison totally changes a prisoner's life and that of their family 100%," he says. "For me, the satisfaction comes from helping somebody achieve that, and, at the same time, reduce the reoffending rate and protect victims of crime. I really enjoy getting up in the morning and coming to work – I don't think everybody can say that."
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