1. REINTEGRATION and AFTERCARE First exchange visit Milan, 29-30 June and 1 July 2014 1

2. Reintegration The Criminal Justice legislative framework in England and Wales is currently going through radical reform: –35 Public Sector Probation Services are being replaced by 21 ‘Community Rehabilitation Companies’ –Private sector, co-ops/mutuals and VCSE are currently bidding for these large contracts –It is envisaged that the winners will establish a ‘supply chain’ of smaller providers (regional and local) 2

3. Reintegration UK legislative framework distinguishes between co- ops/mutuals: –Co-operative Societies (member owned) –Community Benefit Societies (operate for the benefit of the community and can be charitable) AND social enterprises –Community Interest Companies (CICs), not necessarily member based AND 1 share, 1 vote (rather than 1 member, 1 vote) 3

4. Reintegration Community punishment increasingly used as an option: –Curfew and exclusion methods: electronic tagging –Community Payback: the offender completes unpaid work such as improving run down areas, clearing litter/graffiti Community payback case study: Moss Lodge –Former unoccupied haulage yard which was contaminated –Partnership between Council and Probation service –Site cleared and landscaped creating a community space 4

5. One Idea, One Project Circles of Support and Accountability (COSA): –A mutual/co-operative approach to supervision, support and reintegration of sex offenders in particular (but increasingly used with other groups) –Groups of volunteers with professional supervision to support offenders to reintegrate into society –COSA projects exist in Canada, UK and the USA 5

6. One Idea, One Project Circles of Support and Accountability (COSA): –Based on restorative justice principles –Each circle involves 4-6 trained volunteers from the community forming a circle around the ex-offender (the core member) –The circle receives training and support from professionals (the outer circle) –The inner circle meets regularly to assist in the core member’s needs: medical services, social networks, employment/housing as well as emotional support –Also to challenge the behaviours and attitudes that are related to the offending cycle 6

7. One Idea, One Project Circles of Support and Accountability (COSA): –Partnership with local community, criminal justice professionals and the ‘core’ member –They operate as an informal multi-stakeholder co-op/mutual –Evaluations of COSA indicate that participation by the core member can reduce sexual offences by as much as 70% in relation to predictions following a risk assessment 7

8. Our advice Move away from imprisonment: –Better targeting of imprisonment and ensuring it is more effective. Reserved for offences that are so serious that no other form of punishment is suitable –Paying back in the community should become the default position in dealing with less serious offences 8

9. Our advice Take note of the Scottish Prisons Commission, 2008 –3 stage approach to sentencing and ‘paying back’ 1.Judge makes a judgement about the level of penalty 2.What form of reparation is appropriate. Involves a dialogue between judge, probation, community payback staff and the offender 3.Checking up on the process. Report proposes the establishment of a progress court 9

10. Our advice New rules/emphasis for Community Payback: –Ensuring that community based sentences provide rehabilitative and reparative interventions rather than just PUNITIVE ones –Payback may involve making good to the victim and/or the community: Financial reparations Unpaid work Rehabilitative work 10

11. THANKS! For further information: progetti@consorziotenda.it 11