Prisoners to receive 12 months supervision

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has announced radical reforms to the way criminals are rehabilitated. Under the new proposals every offender leaving prison must serve a minimum of 12 months under supervision in the community.

All offenders who enter prison, even for just a few days, will be subject to the new supervision and will be given vital support into housing, employment, training and substance abuse programmes. If they misbehave they face being returned to prison.

The new approach will see a far greater role for private and voluntary sector organisations, who will be paid by results to reduce reoffending, driving innovation and efficiency through the criminal justice system.

The plans will see England and Wales divided into 21 areas which align closely with local authorities and Police and Crime Commissioner areas. Private and voluntary sector organisations will then be invited to bid for work in these areas with each awarded contract based on best value and innovation in tackling reoffending.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said:

‘Tackling our stubbornly high reoffending rates has dogged successive governments for decades. These reforms represent a golden opportunity to finally turn the tide and put a stopper in the revolving door of the justice system.

‘It is simply not good enough that we spend £4bn a year on prisons and probation, and yet make no real dent in the appetite of offenders to commit more crime. It is little wonder, when many of our most prolific criminals leave prison totally unsupervised in the community.

‘These reforms are essential and will ensure that offenders are properly punished but also given targeted support to help them turn away from crime for good.’

It is expected that the reforms will be rolled out across England and Wales by 2015.

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