"Serious violent crime in England and Wales should be expected to rise unless urgent steps are taken to boost the probation service. That is the alarming warning from Martin Jones, HM chief inspector of probation. He estimates that 100,000 offenders on probation are currently not being properly managed. This overstretched service cannot be expected to manage the increased workload that will follow from sentencing reforms."
"Supervising more offenders in the community is a good idea in principle. Prisons are overcrowded and short sentences are ineffective, with a high reoffending rate. When too many people are locked up for 12 months or less, and jails are too full, the continual churn and poor conditions make it difficult for prison officers to do their job. The cost-saving potential of technology in public services is often overstated."
Serious violent crime could rise unless the probation service is urgently strengthened. About 100,000 offenders on probation are not being properly managed. The overstretched service cannot absorb increased workload from sentencing reforms. Community supervision aims to reduce prison overcrowding and high reoffending from short sentences. Electronic tags offer a plausible way to improve the criminal justice system alongside fewer short custodial sentences. Ministers have promised up to £700m of investment to 2028-29, but risks to public safety could increase if probation capacity is not built up first. Past failures include an inquest finding omissions by probation officers that contributed to a serious situation.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]