being sent to jail.

And the total cost to the Island is between 15 and 20 percent of the total Budget.

A new report unveiled yesterday said: "Although there are no accurate figures, it's estimated by Prison Fellowship Bermuda that a staggering two to three thousand people are disrupted or affected at any one time by incarceration, including the inmates, families of inmates and loved ones.

"This is a major community and social problem to Bermuda and the cost to Bermuda, including the Police force, Prison Service, incarceration, courts and related social services is between 15 and 20 percent of our total Budget.'' But the report insisted a full-time Resettlement Office to ease prisoners from behind bars and back into the mainstream of life would cut the massive cost of crime.

The report said: "It is Prison Fellowship's belief that a full-time Resettlement Office staffed and administered by us will dramatically reduce the cost to the Bermuda community and assist in the war against crime.'' The report explained that when a prisoner is released, society's responsibility does not end.

It said: "When an offender has completed their custodial sentence and has paid the debt to society..they have special needs which must be addressed to prevent them reoffending.'' These are: a job; a home; financial assistance; and a support system to help ex-cons cope with a sense of rejection.

The report said: "A recent survey in the UK established that an ex-prisoner is four times more likely to reoffend and return to prison if they have no job, as opposed to those ex-inmates who find work.

"And an immediate requirement is accommodation -- unless this is arranged, a released prisoner is likely to immediately seek help in this area from the criminal fraternity.

"It's therefore obvious that a dramatic way to reduce crime is to produce an environment where the ex-prisoners do not have to reoffend to provide for themselves.

"The Resettlement Office will be a major player or link in the process.''