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Private firms 'to take on probation services' Private firms 'to take on probation services'
(about 2 hours later)
An overhaul of the probation service in England and Wales will see low risk offenders supervised by the private sector, the government is to announce. An overhaul of the probation service in England and Wales will see low-risk offenders supervised by the private sector, the government is to announce.
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling will unveil plans to let security firms and voluntary groups manage probation on a "payment by results" basis.Justice Secretary Chris Grayling will unveil plans to let security firms and voluntary groups manage probation on a "payment by results" basis.
Prisoners serving short sentences will also have to undertake compulsory rehabilitation for the first time.Prisoners serving short sentences will also have to undertake compulsory rehabilitation for the first time.
The probation union has warned the move could "compromise public protection". Trade unionists fear that the move could "compromise public protection".
'Rehabilitation revolution' Most released prisoners and people serving community sentences are currently managed by the public sector probation service - provided by 35 trusts across England and Wales.
Most released prisoners and people serving community sentences are currently managed by the public sector probation service - provided by 35 probation trusts across England and Wales. But under the Ministry of Justice's (MoJ) proposals - which are subject to a six-week consultation period - responsibility for monitoring some 200,000 medium- and low-risk offenders will transfer to the private sector.
But under the Ministry of Justice's proposals - which are subject to a six-week consultation period - responsibility for monitoring some 200,000 medium and low risk offenders will be transferred from 35 local trusts to the private sector. Private companies and charitable bodies successfully bidding for contracts will be paid according to their results in cutting re-offending.
Private companies and charitable bodies successfully bidding for probation contracts will be paid according to the results they achieve in cutting re-offending.
However, the public probation service will continue to supervise some 50,000 high-risk offenders, including all serious violent and sexual offenders.However, the public probation service will continue to supervise some 50,000 high-risk offenders, including all serious violent and sexual offenders.
As part of the "rehabilitation revolution" - and in a bid to curb reoffending - Mr Grayling has also indicated that all those serving short custodial sentences will be required to undergo a period of rehabilitation following their release. An MoJ spokesman said £1bn was spent each year on probation, and that the re-offending rate stood at 50%.
Prisoners serving under 12 months only currently undergo voluntary rehabilitation and are otherwise released without support or supervision. "These proposals are about using services better to tackle that reoffending rate and getting better results for the money spent..., using the funding in a new and different way," he added.
In an attempt to curb reoffending, Mr Grayling has also indicated that all those serving short custodial sentences will undergo rehabilitation following their release.
Prisoners serving under 12 months only currently undergo voluntary rehabilitation and are otherwise freed without support or supervision.
The MoJ says those serving more than 12 months are subject to statutory supervision on release - this can involve regular meetings with an offender manager, curfews and a requirement to attend drug or alcohol rehabilitation courses.
A scheme is also being introduced where similar offenders are being met at the prison gates by a mentor offering support in finding accommodation, returning to work and coping with drugs or alcohol.
The new proposals would see all freed prisoners subject to both the mentoring scheme and also statutory supervision.
Mr Grayling said: "What we do at the moment is send people out of prison with £46 in their pocket, and no support at all.Mr Grayling said: "What we do at the moment is send people out of prison with £46 in their pocket, and no support at all.
"No wonder we have such high levels of reoffending. It is madness to carry on with the same old system and hope for a different result." "No wonder we have such high levels of re-offending. It is madness to carry on with the same old system and hope for a different result."
"We know across the public, private and voluntary sectors there is a wealth of expertise and experience - we need to unlock that so we can finally begin to bring down our stubbornly high reoffending rates," he added. "We know across the public, private and voluntary sectors there is a wealth of expertise and experience - we need to unlock that so we can finally begin to bring down our stubbornly high re-offending rates," he added.
"Our proposals will see all of those sentenced to prison or probation properly punished while being helped to turn away from crime for good. The government will offer £500,000 to voluntary and community sector groups to help them as they prepare to bid for probation contracts.
"They will also mean we only spend taxpayers' money on what works when it comes to cutting crime." Harry Fletcher of probation officers' union Napo said the "astonishing" overhaul was being rushed through without proper thought to the consequences".
Under the proposals, a nationwide Justice Data Lab will also be established to help rehabilitation organisations access data on reoffending. He added: "Re-offending rates for the individuals that probation does supervise are much improved; those who participate in programmes have a re-offending rate now of 35%. This is a success story that the government should be building on, not destroying".
And the government will offer £500,000 to voluntary and community sector groups to help them as they prepare to bid for probation contracts. Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: "When it comes to cutting re-offending, Ministry of Justice figures show that community sentences are outperforming short jail sentences by almost 10%.
'Rushed through'
Harry Fletcher of the probation officers' union Napo described the overhaul as "astonishing" and "purely ideological".
"It is being rushed through without proper thought to the consequences," he said.
"There is no plan for dealing with the escalation or decline of risk of individual offenders. If this plan proceeds it will be chaotic and will compromise public protection".
He added: "Reoffending rates for the individuals that probation does supervise are much improved; those who participate in programmes have a reoffending rate now of 35%. This is a success story that the government should be building on, not destroying".
Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: "When it comes to cutting reoffending, Ministry of Justice figures show that community sentences are outperforming short jail sentences by almost 10%.
"Why not build on the success of joint work by probation, police and voluntary organisations, rather than break up the probation service and put the public at risk?""Why not build on the success of joint work by probation, police and voluntary organisations, rather than break up the probation service and put the public at risk?"
Liz Calderbank, chief inspector of probation for England and Wales, told the BBC's Today programme that offenders posed "particular challenges" for those handling their probation. Liz Calderbank, chief inspector of probation for England and Wales, questioned how, for example, a positive result for someone on probation could be measured.
She questioned how, for example, a positive result for someone on probation could be measured. "If you have someone who's convicted of a serious knife crime and then they re-offend by stealing a jar of coffee, is that a failure or a success?" she said.
"If you have someone who's convicted of a serious knife crime and then they reoffend by stealing a jar of coffee, is that a failure or a success?", she said.
In 2011, a record number of offenders sentenced for serious crimes were found to have committed previous offences, according to government figures.In 2011, a record number of offenders sentenced for serious crimes were found to have committed previous offences, according to government figures.
Some 90% of those sentenced in England and Wales had offended before - and almost a third had committed or were linked to 15 or more crimes.Some 90% of those sentenced in England and Wales had offended before - and almost a third had committed or were linked to 15 or more crimes.
Final reforms for the probation service are expected to be set out later this year and implemented across England and Wales by spring 2015.Final reforms for the probation service are expected to be set out later this year and implemented across England and Wales by spring 2015.
Are you affected by the issues in this story? Would you have welcomed further support on leaving prison? Send us your experiences using the form below.Are you affected by the issues in this story? Would you have welcomed further support on leaving prison? Send us your experiences using the form below.