It plays a part, but the overwhelming reasons for reoffending are habit and lack of realistic alternatives. If you leave those gates with no address and a record what are the real odds of changing your lifestyle? Would it be more comforting to return, therefore, to people who understand that and can make use of you, as before? What is the incentive to try to change if the odds are against that? There is more to this than carrot and stick, but you get the point.
For character reference I cite Jeffrey Archer.............
