27 October 2008
In a speech at the Royal Society of Arts today, Justice Secretary Jack Straw called for a rebalancing of criminal justice priorities to give victims a stronger voice.
He said:
'The government as a whole has worked very hard to give a central voice and priority to victims but we hear far less often from the criminal justice lobbies about the needs of the victim.'
The speech also emphasises the Justice Secretary's Punishment and Reform agenda, which combines the need to punish those who have broken society's rules with an obligation on the part of the offender to make amends - to reform.
The recently announced offender compacts set standards of behaviour expected of prisoners while in custody and on release. The expectation is that prisoners will not only maintain good behaviour in prison but will also commit to reform.
Jack Straw also outlined the government's success in tackling crime: a 33% fall in recorded crime and the chances of being a victim at the lowest levels since recording began in 1981.
He described the improvements in prison conditions over the past decade as a 'remarkable achievement' and praised advances in drug treatment programmes. But he also reiterated that custody should largely be reserved for the most violent, dangerous and prolific offenders.
The government has committed significant resources to broadening the scope of prevention and punishment in the community. Earlier intervention and better cooperation between local agencies, and the use of community penalties as a punishment in their own right are addressing the causes of crime and increasing public safety.
He praised the multi-agency work of the two Dedicated Drug Courts in West London and Leeds and announced an extension of the pilot scheme to cover four new courts in Salford, Barnsley, Bristol and Cardiff.
The Justice Secretary also highlighted the pilots for new Intensive Community Sentences on which offenders receive intensive rehabilitation and supervision over a shorter period of time. Many of those receiving Intensive Community Sentences will also be tagged on a strict curfew.
Jack Straw said:
'We have a duty to reform as well as to punish offenders. A just and civilised society is one where criminals both pay their debt to society and are given the chance to change. Offenders must take responsibility for their choice to commit crime. They must be held to account for their actions and challenged to make a better choice in the future.'
For more information please contact the Ministry of Justice Press Office on 0203 334 3536.