Sentencing: one size does not fit all

Posted November 30, 2010

Last week saw the publication by the Policy Exchange of their latest report, Reforming Community Sentences. This resulted in my debut on the Today Programme on Thursday– a spot I shared with Blair Gibbs from the Policy Exchange. This was followed by their launch and a debate around the report. Undoubtedly the report has raised awareness around the need to improve community sentences but I would firmly caution against a ‘one size fits all’ model. Straight punishment may indeed be sufficient for some first time offenders, but a considerable number of those sentenced to community punishment will continue require a range of services to enable them to move away from their offending behaviour.

community sentences, Policy Exchange, report

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.