Questions for Rt Honourable Helen Grant, Minister of Justice

Helen Grant the junior justice minister appears in front of the justice committee on 25th March 2013 at 09 30 hrs. Whilst we welcome the coalition government's commitment to treat women offenders  from a gendered perspective, we would like to take the opportunity to ask some questions to broaden the debate.
A detailed interview outlining Mrs Grant's proposals can be found here  here

1.   Will the justice minister expand on what will happen to existing women's diversion centers and whether   NOMS will continue to fund until commissioning for transforming justice are published  which could take up to 2 years?

2. Will the minister explain how she envisages working  with existing providers to bring best practices gathered from the diversion centers  what opportunities will there be to bring new providers with experience of working with vulnerable women in the sector already? 

3. What steps are being taken to ensure vulnerable women are not further damaged by exposure to inexperienced workers subcontracted to large prime  providers with no track record or success in working with this group?

4. Will the minister  consider making the Bangkok Rules the minimum requirements for any agency wishing to work with women offenders?

5. The minister states she wishes to punish women, rehabilitate women and transform justice simultaneously.  These are 3 outcomes which require different strategies and outputs and might be irreconcilable.  Could she explain her priorities?

6. Does the minister undertake to implement gender main streaming as opposed to gender equality?  Women are not men, solutions and sentences need to reflect motherhood, discrimination and other issues specific to women.

Boris Johnson, diary fixture and Mayor has a good idea.

Government blocks bid to keep drunks out of jail

viaEvening Standard

The Government is blocking a pioneering plan to cut crime by letting violent drunks take breath tests instead of going to prison, the Mayor's policing spokesman said today.

Either you're in front of Boris, or Westminster is behind him.

Boris Johnson wants anyone convicted of alcohol-related violence to stay out of prison as long as they attend a police station twice a day to take a £1 breathalyser test and prove they are sober.
But the plans for mandatory sobriety tests are being blocked by Ministry of Justice officials, City Hall said.
Kit Malthouse, deputy mayor for policing, said the ministry is refusing to back the plan because it is "not very good at coping with new ideas".
It comes days after the new Scotland Yard commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe, said constant testing of convicted drunks is needed to cut crime.
The twice-a-day breath tests plan was inspired by a successful programme in America.
Mr Johnson said such a programme needed to be introduced in the wake of the riots as "the horror and expense of the current booze culture" was evident throughout accident and emergency departments throughout London.

 

Restorative Justice, a deconstructionalist approach to pure justice.

13 September 2011

More offenders will face the consequences of their actions with the launch of the first-ever register of restorative justice practitioners.

Funded by the Ministry of Justice and implemented by the Restorative Justice Council (RJC), the register lists all qualified practitioners of restorative justice - a process where offenders meet their victims and hear about the pain they have caused.

Justice Minister Crispin Blunt said: 'Restorative Justice demands criminals take an active role in acknowledging the harm they have caused, as well as making amends.

'The register we are launching today will encourage the increased use of restorative justice by making it quicker and easier to find a local practitioner, as well as acting as the first-ever benchmark of quality and professionalism that ensures victims are safeguarded.'

Restorative justice, already used in England and Wales, empowers victims and communities to overcome the negative impact of crime - with 85 per cent of victims who have taken part reporting a positive experience.

Reformed offender Scott said: 'When I heard about the pain I caused I couldn’t understand why I did it and I felt sick hearing that.'

'I can’t do burglaries now, because I keep hearing Michelle’s words in my head and it stops me doing it.'

For more information on RJ

http://www.restorativejustice.org/