This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jun/13/pilot-schemes-reoffending-results

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Pilot schemes to cut reoffending show mixed results Pilot schemes to cut reoffending show mixed results
(4 months later)
Prisoners in England and Wales have committed an average of 41 previous offences, and 20% say crime does pay, Ministry of Justice research reveals.Prisoners in England and Wales have committed an average of 41 previous offences, and 20% say crime does pay, Ministry of Justice research reveals.
A survey of offenders found that 63% claimed most people would offend if they could get away it and a similar proportion said they did not consider themselves to be a criminal.A survey of offenders found that 63% claimed most people would offend if they could get away it and a similar proportion said they did not consider themselves to be a criminal.
The findings come as interim results from two payment-by-results schemes designed to cut reconviction rates for prison leavers showed modest reductions.The findings come as interim results from two payment-by-results schemes designed to cut reconviction rates for prison leavers showed modest reductions.
Under the first pilot scheme, which has been running for two-and-a-half years at Peterborough prison, reconviction rates fell from 41.6% for short-sentenced prisoners who left the jail between September 2008 – March 2010, to 39.2% for those who took part in the scheme and left the jail between September 2010 – March 2012.Under the first pilot scheme, which has been running for two-and-a-half years at Peterborough prison, reconviction rates fell from 41.6% for short-sentenced prisoners who left the jail between September 2008 – March 2010, to 39.2% for those who took part in the scheme and left the jail between September 2010 – March 2012.
The scheme provided offenders with help as they prepared for release from jail and then access to services they needed outside prison, including housing, employment and financial services. Ministers are planning to roll this out to all prisoners serving less than 12 months in legislation going through parliament in the offender rehabilitation bill.The scheme provided offenders with help as they prepared for release from jail and then access to services they needed outside prison, including housing, employment and financial services. Ministers are planning to roll this out to all prisoners serving less than 12 months in legislation going through parliament in the offender rehabilitation bill.
Interim results in a second, similar scheme at Doncaster prison, launched in October 2011, appear less promising. The reconviction rate of 41.1% between October 2011 – March 2012 was higher than the 39.8% recorded between October 2010 – March 2011, but lower than the 41.6% recorded the year before. Final results will be published 2014.Interim results in a second, similar scheme at Doncaster prison, launched in October 2011, appear less promising. The reconviction rate of 41.1% between October 2011 – March 2012 was higher than the 39.8% recorded between October 2010 – March 2011, but lower than the 41.6% recorded the year before. Final results will be published 2014.
Chris Grayling, the justice secretary, described the Peterborough figures as promising when set against a 2% rise in national reconviction rates over the same period. He said the results of both pilots were steps in the right direction. "Peterborough, the model I'm looking at, is actually very encouraging indeed," he said.Chris Grayling, the justice secretary, described the Peterborough figures as promising when set against a 2% rise in national reconviction rates over the same period. He said the results of both pilots were steps in the right direction. "Peterborough, the model I'm looking at, is actually very encouraging indeed," he said.
Sadiq Khan, the shadow justice secretary, said the results showed some improvement but the government should not rush into rolling out the schemes nationwide. "These are early results from pilots, and there is time to learn and improve from these early experiences.Sadiq Khan, the shadow justice secretary, said the results showed some improvement but the government should not rush into rolling out the schemes nationwide. "These are early results from pilots, and there is time to learn and improve from these early experiences.
"This is exactly the reason why it's wrong to jump in with both feet and roll out payment by results to all of our probation service as Chris Grayling is doing before these pilots have run their full course. By doing so, he is gambling with the public's safety.""This is exactly the reason why it's wrong to jump in with both feet and roll out payment by results to all of our probation service as Chris Grayling is doing before these pilots have run their full course. By doing so, he is gambling with the public's safety."
Grayling told a meeting hosted by the Civitas thinktank in London that the schemes opened up the market to rehabilitation providers in the voluntary and private sectors so they could innovate. He said a new approach was needed because of stubbornly high rates of reoffending.Grayling told a meeting hosted by the Civitas thinktank in London that the schemes opened up the market to rehabilitation providers in the voluntary and private sectors so they could innovate. He said a new approach was needed because of stubbornly high rates of reoffending.
"Britain's problem is less about offending and more about reoffending," he said, citing the ministry's new research."Britain's problem is less about offending and more about reoffending," he said, citing the ministry's new research.
"That's just an indication of the fact that we're dealing with a group of people who have gone round and round the system. Eighty per cent of the people who arrive in our prisons have already been through a community sentence. Of those who come into our prisons, half will reoffend within 12 months. We're dealing with a problem that just keeps going round and round and round.""That's just an indication of the fact that we're dealing with a group of people who have gone round and round the system. Eighty per cent of the people who arrive in our prisons have already been through a community sentence. Of those who come into our prisons, half will reoffend within 12 months. We're dealing with a problem that just keeps going round and round and round."
Grayling was asked whether he would consider employing an ex-prisoner within the MoJ. He said he was "up for the idea" of finding suitable opportunities.Grayling was asked whether he would consider employing an ex-prisoner within the MoJ. He said he was "up for the idea" of finding suitable opportunities.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.