Synopsis: |
This paper puts forward the strategy for the most significant change to short custodial sentences in a decade. Each year around 65,000 of the most prolific offenders serving sentences of up to two years will receive extended, targeted rehabilitation. All offenders who enter prison, even for just a few days, will be subject to the new supervision and will be given vital support into housing, employment, training and substance abuse programmes. If they misbehave they face being returned to prison. Although crime is falling, reoffending rates have barely changed in a decade despite spending GBP4bn a year on prisons and probation. There will be 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 also be introducing the most advanced GPS satellite tracking of offenders in the world and therefore be much harder for offenders to move home while they are under supervision to ensure continuity in the support they receive. The plans will see England and Wales divided into 21 areas which align closely 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 with each awarded contract based on best value and innovation in tackling reoffending. A new joined-up approach to tackling drug addiction will also be tested in a number of prisons, in partnership with the Department of Health. The reforms will be rolled out across England and Wales by 2015 |