Abstract
Through the Prison Gate was the first thematic report which I (together with Anne Owers) launched as incoming Chief Inspector of Probation in early autumn 2001. Our report was closely followed by parallel exercises undertaken by the National Audit Office (Reducing Prisoner Reoffending, January 2002) and, with an even higher profile, the Social Exclusion Unit (Reducing Re-offending by Ex-prisoners, July 2002).