Signal was pleased to attend the first NoOffence! Criminal justice conference yesterday. This relatively new group has, in a short space of time, brought together an impressive cross section of professionals all interested in criminal justice reform.
We at Signal are currently working with NoOffence! on a working group to improve employment support for ex-offenders and potential employers.
The conference was well attended, with some excellent and influential speakers, not least of which was Peter Neyroud CBE QPM, former Chief Executive of the National Policing Improvement Agency & former Chief Constable of Thames Valley Constabulary.
All speakers brought an impressive weight of evidence to support the need and benefit of criminal justice reform.
This is an area, where as former Senior Managers in the Prison Service, Signal has great interest, and has commented in the past on the various issues that the current status quo inflicts on the offender population and the country at large.
The focus groups during the day discussed such subjects as:
- The Bradley report
- Using research to reduce reoffending
- Social investment
- Active inclusion into the mainstream (AIM)
- Open Space
- Social Enterprise
- Employment for ex-offenders
A point worth noting from the Social Investment group and one that can be applied to a great deal of justice reform, is the difference between the vision and the reality of accessing these initiatives.
In networking sessions it was clear that the social and CSR aspects of the ‘Big Society’ vision were the real drivers for an awful lot of delegates in the room. However, the bureaucratic implementation of them was throwing up some serious barriers to progression. This is clearly a governance area that needs further work.
I want to leave you with the ‘Quote of the day’ for me. This sums up current action and future thinking.
“Too often services are done to offenders and not with them.” Professor Paul Senior
Change this and we change for the better.
Matthew Scott.
An excellent summary.
It is interesting to note that despite government calling for a re-habilitation revolution, innovation and partnership with the Voluntary and Private Sectors, representatives of NOMS were conspicuous by their absence. Unless this situation changes, the PMs Big Society is regrettably unlikely to arise.
Trevor Philpott
Trevor,
Many thanks for the comment and you make a very valid point. There was one significant stakeholder group unrepresented.
Let’s hope they come next time?
Matt.