This year holds many challenges and opportunities for the criminal justice system. We are still reeling from the fall-out from the riots as the numbers of prisoners reach a record high and there are serious concerns about gangs and young offenders. Yet there appears to be a political will to reduce the use of custody for those who would be better punished in the community, particularly women and those whose crimes are the result of mental health issues. – Roma Hooper

As the year comes to a close, this is a good moment to reflect on some of the extraordinary events which are influencing the delivery of fair and effective justice within the UK – Roma Hooper

This year holds many challenges and opportunities for the criminal justice system. We are still reeling from the fall-out from the riots as the numbers of prisoners reach a record high and there are serious concerns about gangs and young offenders. Yet there appears to be a political will to reduce the use of custody for those who would be better punished in the community, particularly women and those whose crimes are the result of mental health issues. – Roma Hooper

September was a very busy month with the launch of our Final Report and the subsequent media interest it generated. National Commission of Enquiry The Final Report was launched on 12th September at a roundtable seminar at Portcullis House. We had a very good turnout, including some of our panel members. David Barrie and I then handed in the Report to Downing Street and I went on to do an interview for the BBC six o’clock news, with the support of Mark Easton who did a fantastic piece focusing on one of the community sentences we visited in Leicester. – Roma Hooper

I don’t need to reiterate the extraordinary events of this month. The riots have brought out the worst and best in people, and the criminal justice system has certainly had a very busy time. We now need to let the dust settle and hope that once the initial kneejerk responses have subsided, a more calmer and more rational debate will begin. In the meantime, our prisons are bulging again. – Roma Hooper

With the draft Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill and White Paper now out, pressure continues to build on Ken Clarke’s intended reforms. The recent u-turns will make it more difficult to give reality to his bold intentions to reduce the numbers in prison, but there remains much in the White Paper which we commend and hope to build on. – Roma Hooper

As we await the response to the Green Paper Consultation, pressure has been building on Ken Clarke’s intended reforms which may or may not threaten some of his bold intentions to reduce the numbers in prison. – Roma Hooper