• Responding to Ken Clarke’s speech at Conservative Party Conference 04.10.11

Ken Clarke is right – his most pressing priority is to reform the criminal justice system so it can deal with repeat offenders more effectively and at less cost to the taxpayer. The answer is staring the government in the face: intensive community sentences are proven to be tough, reduce crime, and cost a fraction of a short stay in prison, which for these offenders will never be anything other than a ‘university of crime – Roma Hooper

• Community Sentencing must be strengthened to make a tough alternative to prison 12.09.11

Community or Custody, a National Enquiry commissioned by Make Justice Work, will today (Monday) publish its Final Report.
The Enquiry finds that intensive community sentences can provide a tough and much more effective alternative to prison for persistent, low-level offenders. The Enquiry also revealed that offenders themselves find intensive community sentences much more demanding than a short spell in prison – Roma Hooper

• Commenting on the Justice Select Committee’s report 27.07.11

The Justice Committee is absolutely right to demand leadership from the government in building public confidence in community sentences. Ministers know full well that short spells in prison don’t work for low-level offenders. Robust and effective community sentences must be much more widely used, if our broken criminal justice system is to be put right – David Barrie

• There are intensive sentences out there which are tougher and more effective than a short spell in prison 10.06.11

Ministers under pressure on sentencing reforms must keep their eyes on the prize: the real problem in prisons is the ‘revolving door’ of offenders going in, out, and in again for short sentences of under a year. Parking someone in prison for a few weeks is phenomenally expensive and criminally ineffective. Ken Clarke said last month it was a ‘national scandal’ that half of all prisoners on these short sentences re-offend within a year. He was right then and it is right now that he should do something about it – Roma Hooper

• Comment on today’s budget 23.04.11

The Government’s plans to reduce prison numbers must be coupled with investment in robust community alternatives. If offenders are not re-directed to effective community programmes there is a genuine risk that they will simply go on to reoffend – Roma Hooper

• Make Justice Work launches National Enquiry on alternatives to short term prison sentences 23.07.11

I am delighted to have such a distinguished group of experts working with me on this important initiative. I firmly believe that the results of our enquiry will prove to government that they can confidently cut prison numbers, cut crime and cut spending through sensible alternatives to custody – Roma Hooper