A Social Approach to the Process of Rehabilitation
| Author | Tracey McMahon |
| Pages | 159-163 |
159
THOUGHT PIECE
'Thought Pieces' are papers which draw on the author's personal knowledge and
experience to offer stimulating and thought provoking ideas relevant to the aims of the
Journal. The ideas are located in an academic, research, and/or practice context and all
papers are peer reviewed. Responses to them should be submitted to the Journal in the
normal way.
A SOCIAL APPROACH TO THE PROCESS OF
REHABILITATION
Tracey McMahon, author, currently serving a suspended sentence
My experi ences within the Criminal Justice S ystem have helped me to becom e a feature
author on Criminal Law & Justice Weekly and a copywriter and translator currently
working on the key areas in the Criminal Justice System regarding rehabilitation,
employment and housing. I have previously had a suspended sentence supervision order
and am currently subject to a second suspended sentence, this time without any orders
attached. After a period of homelessness, I successfully pick ed up my business,
approaching clients and being honest about my situation. After living on my mother’s sofa
for three months, I worked and was able to save up enough money fo r my own
apartment. I am now in the pr ocess of registering a foundation to help those who slip
through the net of the Criminal Justice System. Th ere are gaping chasms in the C JS and
there is not enough concentration on those who do make a success of their rehabilitation
period. I am working and writing for the oldest law journal within the UK and have good
support in the setting up of my foundation. With James Timpson of Timpson (a well-
known employer who is actively involved with the emplo yment of ex-offenders) as Patron,
and UKCriminalLaw blog as ambassador to the foundation, I have made the most of my
rehabilitation period and continue to do so.
This article raises my concerns around the Transforming Rehabilitation consultation paper
proposed by the Ministry of Justice in January 2013. I aim to highlight concern s around the
reforms detailed in the consultation paper. The govern ment’s approach to reducing the
re-offending rates is commendable, however as will be shown, there are concerns around
the approach from a social aspect. It is clear that the social problems associated with
offending and re-offending behaviour need addressing and the consultation paper
appears to miss the most vital areas such as empl oyment, housing and addiction
British Journal of Community Justice
©2013 Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield
ISSN 1475-0279
Vol. 11(2-3): 159-163
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