As the political parties remove their boxing gloves, criminal justice joins the ring. The media this week has provided some interesting insights. The Liberal Democrats have shown some courage by expressing their rational and sensible views, particularly about the pointlessness of short prison sentences (with a typically classic response from the Sun and the Mail).
Continue reading “Criminal justice is the hot topic for all parties this election” »

Well, the race has begun. How long will it take the parties to start playing the ‘let’s be tough’ on crime game? And it won’t be difficult to guess how some of the media will respond to the mantra.
Continue reading “When it comes to punishment, one size does not fit all” »

This has been a really interesting week starting with, rather bizarrely, sitting in the Empire, Leicester Square, watching the screening of the Fear Factory. Very decadent for a Monday morning. However, an interesting and challenging new documentary that exposes the history, mechanics and extent of fear mongering that has led to the UK’s criminal justice crisis. The film has given rise to a coalition of over 40 organisations, including Make Justice Work, which calls for an end to the political arms race on law and order.
Continue reading “The public needs to understand what is really going on around criminal justice today” »

Just in case anyone should think going to prison for a couple of months is of more use than building bird boxes (see Bird-brained Justice, Daily Mail, 20th  February 2010), then they should think again. There is no evidence that a short time in prison has any rehabilitative effect on young offenders. Sadly, the reporting of the new Making Good programme failed to explain that it is the public who are invited to choose suitable programmes for these youngsters to pay back to their community for what they have done.  As we all know, young “criminals’ are notoriously difficult to steer away for yobbish behaviour but at least the public are now being given a chance to be involved with the type of punishment they see as appropriate and see the results of their involvement. In fact looking at the testimonials so far with this new programme, it looks pretty positive.
Continue reading “Effective rehabilitation lies beyond short term prison sentences” »

This week marks a major shift in the real  reducing re-offending arena. Finally, the beginning of a more open debate around how to reduce crime without building more prison places. But let’s be clear – this is only the beginning. It is therefore crucial that every one of us, who believes  that rehabilitation for lower level offenders can  be successfully achieved by appropriate investment in community sentencing, resulting in safer communities, must continue to make our voices heard and that politicians and policy makers are held to account should there be any “slippage” in their intentions. Common sense and economic prudence must prevail – and justice ministers will need to be courageous and not allow some parts of the media to derail the potential for the most major criminal justice reform we have seen for decades.

Press Statement: Government must heed warnings before it is too late

Following the publication of the Chief Inspector of Prisons, Dame Anne Owers, annual report, Roma Hooper, Director of a new campaign organisation called Make Justice Works says:
Continue reading “Make Justice Work respond to HM Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales Annual Report” »

Press Statement: Titan prisons won’t work – Channel funds to alternatives that will
Continue reading “Make Justice Work respond to the House of Commons Justice Select Committee report into prison overcrowding” »