November 20,
2009:
Justice Secretary's Probation
Visit
Justice Secretary
Jack Straw saw
for himself the positive results of an intensive community sentence
pilot run by the
probation
service to cut reoffending and support safer communities in
Derbyshire today.
The pilot has been running since 2008 and targets offenders who need more
intensive punishments, supervision and rehabilitation for up to seven days a
week. From the start of the order offenders sentenced to intensive community
sentences receive intensive, structured activities such as drug programmes,
Community Payback,
supervision and curfew every day.
The pilot is testing what levels of punishment and support are most
effective for tackling reoffending among a difficult group of persistent
offenders.
Jack Straw, who met
staff and offenders at the pilot, commented:
‘Prison is the right place for the most
serious and violent offenders but there are currently people in prison who
would be better rehabilitated in the community. Putting offenders through
tough innovative community sentences may be more effective in reducing
reoffending than a short spell in prison and can deliver better value for the
taxpayer.'
‘Working with offenders who are close to being sent to custody is one of the
hardest challenges for the Probation Service. We want to ensure magistrates
have tough sentences at their disposal for difficult offenders and I can see
today from the work that Derbyshire
Probation are doing
that we are delivering effective community sentences that benefit local
people.'
‘The intensive community sentences make a positive contribution to cutting
crime in Derby. I am pleased that the
Ministry of Justice is supporting the development of locally-based,
innovative community sentence packages that are responsive to local needs.’
The Chief Officer of Derbyshire Probation,
Denise White said:
‘Derbyshire Probation is proud to be the
first area to pilot this intensive order. Our experience is showing that this
approach can reduce reoffending amongst those who have extensive previous
convictions and a history of involvement with various parts of the criminal
justice system.'
‘A number of offenders undertaking the intensive order have met with Mr Straw
today. However, some who have successfully completed the sentence were not
able to do so. The reason is that they have gained full-time employment. This
is a major achievement and testament to the hard work of the offenders
themselves, and of Derbyshire Probation staff, mentors and partner agencies
who have contributed to their success.’
The projects emphasise the need for offenders
to be immediately and intensively supervised, given demanding and structured
activities and left in no doubt about the consequences of non-compliance.
Additional funding of £13.9 million announced in 2008 has gone towards
the three-year programme with pilots in seven areas around England and Wales.
The testing of intensive community sentences and the provision of more
rigorous non-custodial regimes were recommended as part of the response to the
Carter Review published in 2007.
Projects are also running in West Yorkshire,
South Wales, Dyfed Powys, Humberside, Merseyside and Manchester.
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