Finally a welcome turn in criminal justice policy debate

Posted February 2, 2010

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.

low level offenders, re-offending, rehabilitation

Roma Hooper

Roma has worked in and around the criminal justice system since 1992, when she was asked to help set up Britain’s first prison radio station at Feltham Young Offenders’ Institution. She has a Masters in Criminal Justice Policy from the London School of Economics, is Chair of the Griffins Society (supporting women in the criminal justice system), Vice-Chair of the Foundation Training Company (which runs a series of prison and community based resettlement and development programmes) as well as Chair and Founder of the Prison Radio Association. In 2010 she launched Make Justice Work, a campaign to highlight the cost of short-term prison sentences and to improve public confidence in community sentences.