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Clinks Members' Policy Briefing | January 2018
Clinks has published a recommendations paper, which responds to the key findings from our 2017 state of the sector report. The paper sets out what Clinks will do to support voluntary organisations, including: supporting them to explore alternative fundraising options; assisting them to support staff and volunteers; and proactively acting as a critical friend to decision makers. The paper also makes recommendations for independent funders as well as government and criminal justice agencies. Clinks' Senior Policy Officer, Nicola Drinkwater has written a blog introducing the paper here.
The Government has responded to the Lammy Review of black, Asian and minority ethnic people’s treatment and outcomes in the criminal justice system, outlining the actions it will take in relation to each recommendation. Jess Mullen, Clinks Interim Head of Policy, has written a blog which looks at key points from Clinks’ briefing on the review and considers what the government’s response says about these. The review highlighted key areas of disproportionality for black, Asian and minority ethnic people and made 35 recommendations to address this. The government’s response addresses each of the recommendations in turn and provides information about additional developments that will impact on this issue.
Clinks has responded to the Department for Communities and Local Governments’ consultation on the homeless code of guidance for local authorities. We recommend that the role of housing authorities in relation to public, private and voluntary organisations working with people in contact with the criminal justice system is made explicitly clear. This should help ensure there is no duplication in activity and that people in contact with the criminal justice system do not fall through gaps in provision.
The Prime Minister Theresa May has reshuffled her Cabinet and has appointed David Gauke as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. Prior to this, he was Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Currently there have no changes to the junior ministers at the Ministry of Justice but this might change during the course of today. We will work to keep you updated and will include any additional information in Light Lunch this week.
‘Delivering safer and more secure prisons: the roots to rehabilitation’ The previous Secretary of State for Justice, David Lidington, gave a speech on the 18th December that sets out the government's plans to improve rehabilitation in prisons, ensure the safety of prison officers, reduce smuggling and illicit phone use, and improve support for prisoners on release. He says “[Prison's] purpose is to seek to rehabilitate prisoners, to use the time that they spend in custody to make it more likely that, after they’ve been released, they will live law-abiding lives, they will be able to accept their responsibilities as citizens and contribute positively to the community in which they live.’
Prisoners: Parental Rights On 13th December, Labour MP Carolyn Harris led a Westminster Hall debate on the parental rights of people in prison. MPs discussed the need to take a more child-centred approach to parenting from prison, with the safety and wellbeing of the child in mind. They also emphasised the difficulties created by prisoners being held long distances from their homes. A number of MPs referenced the recommendations of the Farmer Review, such as utilising release on temporary licence to improve family ties and using video calls to supplement face to face contact.
The Ministry of Justice single department plan The Ministry of Justice has published its departmental plan, outlining four objectives: a prison and probation service that reforms people; a modern courts and justice system; a global Britain that promotes the rule of law; and a transformed department. As part of these plans, the department will recruit 2,500 prison officers, use the new 'Urgent Notification' protocol agreed with HM Inspectorate of Prisons , and deliver more effective and tailored interventions for people who are vulnerable or have distinct needs – such as women and young people.
Criminal justice system
HM Inspectorate of Probation 2017 annual report In this most recent annual report HM Inspectorate of Probation states that none of the government’s aspirations for transforming rehabilitation have been met. It highlights that voluntary sector involvement in the delivery of probation appears to be diminishing rather than flourishing and that Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) arrangements for funding organisations is short-term and insecure. In addition it finds that many CRCs are not commissioning the full range of specialist services to meet service users’ needs.
Mental health in prisons Published by the Public Accounts Committee following their inquiry into mental health in prisons, this report concludes that the deteriorating prison estate and long-standing understaffing have created an environment which exacerbates the mental health issues faced by people in prison. These issues have meant that staff are less likely to identify people with mental health issues, and people are less able to self-refer. It recommends that: HM Prison and Probation Service should reduce the time taken to recruit new prison officers and mental health staff; HM Prison and Probation Service and NHS England should review their detection and treatment programmes to ensure that they reflect the current behaviours and needs of people in prison; and NHS England should establish and disseminate information sharing protocols between prison, healthcare and probation staff so that all parties are fully informed about the services and support that people will require on their release.
Less is more- the case for dealing with offences out of court This report published by Transform Justice reviews out of court options for dealing with crime. Recent years have seen a large decline in the use of out of court disposals to deal with low level offending, with more than half of people committing their first time offence now going to court rather than receiving a caution, compared to one in five ten years ago. The report suggests that out of court disposals would be more suitable for many low level offences and recommends the development of a justice reinvestment approach to support this A justice reinvestment approach would utilise savings made by diversion from the criminal justice system to fund local programmes designed to further reduce crime and prevent offending.
Under the spotlight Revolving Doors Agency has published a review of all police and crime plans across England and Wales. These plans are the key public documents setting out Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) priorities for tackling crime in their local area. The review explores how PCCs seek to address the issue of people who come into repeated contact with police and courts as a result of experiencing homelessness, poor mental health and substance misuse issues, and how they will look to support young adults to grow out of crime. The review demonstrates that many PCCs recognise these multiple disadvantages and their relationship to crime, and across the country are willing to innovate and take risks in order to prevent and address crime.
Criminal justice statistics
Bromley Briefing The Prison Reform Trust has published its most recent Bromley Briefing factfile, providing an update on the current state of prisons. It finds that England and Wales has the highest rate of imprisonment in Western Europe; people are receiving longer prison sentences; prison conditions are deteriorating, with more than two-fifths (42%) of prisons in England and Wales rated “of concern” or “of serious concern”; and prison expenditure is increasing.
Community Rehabilitation Company contract report The National Audit Office has published the findings of its investigation into changes to Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) contracts. It finds that the volumes of activity CRCs undertook in the first two years of their contracts were well below the levels expected when the contracts were let, while the number of people supervised was higher. It outlines the adjustments made by the Ministry of Justice to the contracts in 2017 in order to address sustainability concerns raised by the CRCs.
Black, Asian and minority ethnic people
Race priorities report The Young Review has launched a report which assesses the race equality priorities of Police and Crime Commissioners, as highlighted in their police and crime plans. Key findings include: more than three quarters of the plans made no reference to race equality and improving outcomes for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities; only a quarter of the plans made some in-depth reference to an issue affecting local BAME communities and only six plans highlighted demographic and ethnic breakdown for their area.
Youth justice
Policing of children's homes The Howard League for Penal Reform has published a briefing on their review of the policing of children's homes. The report finds that police take their safeguarding duties extremely seriously, but forces are also spending considerable time and resources dealing with minor issues in children’s homes that could be dealt with internally. Positively, the report reveals that many police forces are working closely with children’s homes and local authorities to reduce unnecessary call-outs and prevent vulnerable children being drawn into the criminal justice system.
The Youth Justice Pathway This tool from St Basils is designed for people looking to prevent homelessness and support better outcomes for young people involved in the criminal justice system. The pathway offers a framework for housing and support services which can be used for young people between 16-25 years old, whatever the statutory duty owed to them. It has been developed in collaboration with agencies working with and for young people with an offending history, and is informed by the voices of young people who have experienced homelessness.
Problematic substance use
2017 state of the drug and alcohol sector report Adfam, on behalf of the Recovery Partnership, has published this report. It focuses primarily on interviews with key stakeholders, highlighting their experiences in the drug and alcohol sector, including their current concerns and thoughts for the future. Key stakeholders assert that the potential of the sector to absorb funding cuts through efficiency savings has been exhausted and service capacity continues to be eroded. They further suggest that only central government intervention will protect the sector from further cuts, whilstservice models must continue to evolve to be responsive to clients needs
The future of prisons and probation This blog from Russell Webster looks at Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) business plan for 2017/18 and lays out the strategy and key content from the plan. HMPPS lists five key objectives, including delivering and manage efficient and effective prison, probation and youth justice services in England and Wales. The blog reviews how HMPPS will achieve these objectives, including empowering governors and probation leaders to use evidence, resources, levers and decision making authority to make the difference in reforming people.
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