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FINAL REPORT PUBLISHED 12 SEPT 2011

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Community or custody: which works best?

 

This was the premise of a unique and timely high level national enquiry, commissioned by Make Justice Work. The enquiry was an independent, open-minded and objective rather than scientific exploration of the views of criminal justice sector practitioners and experts around the country about what works best – community or custody.

 

The terms of reference for the enquiry were to investigate the efficacy and cost of short term prison sentences versus robust community based alternatives for low-level offenders.

 

The enquiry was chaired by leading broadcaster and columnist Peter Oborne and led by six renowned experts who have each had distinguished careers across a broad spectrum of issues intersecting with the criminal justice system:

 

 

• Lord Blair, Former Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police
• Roma Hooper, Director and Founder of Make Justice Work
• Paul McDowell, Chief Executive of Nacro
• Dame Anne Owers, Former Chief Inspector of Prisons
• Javed Khan, Chief Executive of Victim Support
• John Thornhill, Chair of the Magistrates Association

 

 

Starting in July 2010 and reporting in Autumn 2011, the enquiry has toured the UK taking evidence from local experts and practitioners about ground-level experience of low-level offending and the relative efficacy and cost of short-term prison sentences or community based alternatives for tackling the problem.