New supervision for offenders leaving jail
Every offender leaving prison will be subject to 12 months under supervision, the government announces, in a move which will see a greater role for the private sector in prisoner rehabilitation.
Under the proposed changes announced on Thursday by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, prisoners – even those who are only inside for a few days – will be subject to new supervision.
These reforms are essential and will ensure that offenders are properly punished but also given targeted support. Chris Grayling
The plans, part of the government’s so-called “rehabilitation revolution“, will also include a greater role for private and voluntary organisations in offering support into housing, employment, training and substance abuse programmes.
These organisations will be paid on a “payments by results” system.
‘Golden opportunity’
Mr Grayling said: “Tackling our stubbornly high reoffending rates has dogged successive governments for decades. These reforms represent a golden opportunity to finally turn the tide and put a stopper in the revolving door of the justice system.
“It is simply not good enough that we spend £4bn a year on prisons and probation, and yet make no real dent in the appetite of offenders to commit more crime. It is little wonder when many of our most prolific criminals leave prison totally unsupervised in the community.
As usual with David Cameron, he has promised change but has failed to deliver. Sadiq Khan, shadow justice secretary
“These reforms are essential and will ensure that offenders are properly punished but also given targeted support to help them turn away from crime for good.”
Although crime is falling, reoffending rates have barely changed in a decade, with more than 58 per cent of prisoners who serve fewer than 12 months going on to commit further crime within a year of release.
‘Wasted chance’
However, Labour dismissed the plans, saying the government has “no idea how their policies will be implemented”.
Shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan said: “Reducing reoffending is one of the best ways to reduce crime, cut the number of victims and shrink the cost of our criminal justice system.
“But as usual with David Cameron he has promised change but has failed to deliver – on rehabilitation they have wasted the last three years doing nothing.
“Behind the headlines the government has no idea how their policies will be implemented. They have no answers to questions such as how much will the doubling of the workload for probation cost, where the money is coming from or how the overcrowded prison estate cope with their local resettlement plans.
Government plans to revolutionise the prison system include the creation of a nationwide network of around 70 “resettlement prisons” so nearly all offenders are released into the area in which they will live and be supervised. It will be made harder for offenders to move homes while they are under supervision to ensure continuity in the support they receive.
The plans will also see England and Wales divided into 21 areas, which align with local authorities and police and crime commissioner areas. Private and voluntary sector organisations will then be invited to bid for work in these areas.
