Roma’s Blog

Drug abuse is one of the biggest causes of low-level offending. If we stop locking these people up at great expense and begin properly addressing their drug taking, we will see crime rates and [...]

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 [...]

Few sensible politicians would support locking up the thousands of women who receive the shortest sentences, at the highest cost to the state and to their families, and make up a tiny proportion [...]

The statistics on crimes committed by repeat offenders should be a wakeup call (Daily Mail, ‘Dodging Justice’, 30 May) Ken Clarke is right to call it a ‘national scandal’. [...]

With all the focus on AV and Osama Bin Laden this week, criminal justice has been slightly quieter in the media.  However,the response to the Green Paper submissions will be on 24th May I am told [...]

Last Tuesday we took our ‘Community or Custody’ panel of experts to visit the Leicester Drugs and Alcohol community sentence which is run by the Criminal Justice Drugs Team.  It is an excellent [...]

The Telegraph reports on a ‘major survey’ which reveals that the majority of people believe that prison isn’t working (Report, 3 April).  They are right.  Too often our prisons take [...]

There is a real risk that swingeing budget cuts will cause a rise in reoffending.  The Government’s plans to reduce prison numbers must be coupled with investment in robust community [...]

Very busy day on Wednesday attending the Revolving Doors Agency conference – excellent day which has helped MJW focus on its next enquiry in July, which is around mental health. Then went [...]

The National Audit Office report “Managing offenders on short custodial sentences” quite clearly demonstrates the urgent need to consider the cost benefit and effectiveness of locking up [...]

This weekend has seen a flurry of articles around the state of the Big Society.  Much criticism is being thrust at David Cameron’s flagship – is he threatening the entire basis of his big society [...]