Re-offending

Tuesday July 14th 2009, Central London, 09:00 - 14:00 (half day)

Working in Partnership to Reduce Re-offending and Make Communities Safer

"It is a core objective of the Government to improve rehabilitation schemes for young offenders with the aim of cutting crime and changing lives. We keep that under constant review."

Rt. Hon David Hanson MP, Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, February 2009.

Overview

One of the prime targets for Crime and Disorder Reducing Partnerships (CDRPs) is to reduce the number of those caught committing crimes who re-offend. It is estimated that out of a million active offenders, 100,000 offenders – 10 per cent – have three or more convictions and are responsible for half of all crime. Within this 100,000, a further 5,000 – 0.5 per cent – are super prolific. There are a number of organisations and initiatives targeted at reducing re-offending.

The Offender Management Act received Royal Assent on 26 July 2007 and sets out new arrangements for the provision of probation services. Services are now commissioned on a local or a national basis.

The Home Office announced a new crime strategy in July 2007 ‘Cutting Crime: A New Partnership 2008–2011’. The strategy outlines the integral role that reducing re-offending plays in meeting wider crime objectives. It also highlights that the challenge is to transform offenders into law-abiding citizens.

It is important that the social exclusion faced by many offenders is tackled; they can be given assistance to re-establish themselves and contribute to society. Fewer offenders mean fewer victims and safer communities.

It is only through partnership working that we can effectively reduce re-offending and change lives of offenders and the community. Charities, justice groups and local government have a crucial role to play, working in partnership with NOMS, local probation boards (trusts) and youth offending teams, in reducing re-offending.

Agenda

09:00	Registration and Coffee
09:45	Chair’s Welcome Address Graham Beech, Director, Catch22 (CONFIRMED)
10:00	Working in Partnership to Reduce Re-offending and Make Communities Safer Achievements to date Punishment and reform Tackling the cycle of reoffending across the pathways Local ownership, local delivery Ben Clark, Head of Reducing Re-offending Programme, Partnerships Unit, Criminal Justice Group, Ministry of Justice (CONFIRMED)
10:20	Reducing Youth Re-offending Through Early Intervention Programmes The cycle of crime, and importance of early intervention Good quality intervention to divert children from at risk of offending Strengthening multi-agency working: key to reduce re-offending. Working with schools and parents. Providing young people with skills and employment, motivating and engaging offenders Joining-up services with probation services, youth offending teams, skills councils and employers Graham Robb, Board Member, Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (CONFIRMED)
10:40	Coffee and Networking
11:00	Inspiring Choices, Creating Positive Futures Providing ex-offenders with positive choices to make positive changes Breaking the cycle of offending Supporting people from social exclusion towards positive and sustainable futures Effective peer led services which support people from social exclusion towards positive futures Case studies Rob Owen, Chief Executive, St Giles Trust (CONFIRMED)
11:20	Health Trainer Programme Vision Concept of HT programme Innovation How it works-achievements to date Mainstreaming Sustainability Success Sara Moore, National Programme Lead, Public, Health & Physical Activity, Offender Health, and Abigail Hamlett, Health Trainer and Sophie Strachan, London Offender Health Trainer lead, Department of Health (CONFIRMED)
11:40	Rehabilitating Re-offenders– The Socially Excluded Adults Public Service Agreement Encourage prevention and early intervention Promoting joint working Focusing resources Incentivising and driving delivery Encouraging stability of a home and job to help prevent re-offending Focusing on at risk groups to help prevent future offending Vivien Brandon, Strategic Lead, Social Exclusion, Offenders Group, Ministry of Justice (CONFIRMED)
12:00	Questions and Answers Session
13:00	Lunch and Networking
14:00	Close

*programme subject to change without notice

Audience

Delegates will include Youth Offending Team managers, solicitors from the public and private sectors, elected members, Police, probation officers, youth and community workers, managers of youth offender institutions, police authority members, housing officers, children’s services managers, truancy liaison officers, teachers, policy and strategy officers, local criminal justice board members, members of chambers of commerce, architects, planners, governors, PCT representatives, careers advisors, trade unions representatives and think-tanks.