Community Justice Files 23
| Author | Jane Dominey |
| Pages | 79-84 |
79
Community Justice Files 23
COMMUNITY JUSTICE FILES 23
Edit ed by Jane Dominey, De Montfort Universi ty
The Coalition: Programme for Government
The new government has published a programme of work for the coming five years which it
argues is ‘inspired by the values of freedom, fairness and responsibility, and a shared desire
to work in the national interest.’
In the area of justice, the programme includes
• A ‘rehabilitation revolution’ that will include paying private providers, by results, to
reduce reoffending
• A full review of sentencing policy, to include ensuring that the sentencing of drug users
helps them come off drugs
• Secure treatment-based accommodation as an alternative to prison for those with drugs
and mental health problems
• Improving the funding for rape crisis centres by using money from the Victims
Surcharge
• A fundamental review of legal aid
• New measures, including forms of restorative justice, to tackle anti-social behaviour and
low-level crime.
A controversial plan to extend anonymity to defendants in rape cases was also included in
the programme but subsequently appears to have been scaled back, perhaps with non-
statutory guidance providing some anonymity in the period between arrest and charge.
In July 2010, the Ministry of Justice published a response to the public comments on this
programme. The response acknowledges that very different perspectives were evident in the
contributions. For example, some responses strongly supported tougher custodial sentences
and others argued the merits of community options. A rehabilitation Green Paper is
promised for November 2010.
The justice section of the Programme for Government can be found at
http://programmeforgovernment.hmg.gov.uk/justice/ and the Ministry of Justice response is at
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/justice-response.htm
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