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– Work Programme to be extended to ex-offenders

 

 

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Work Programme to be extended to ex-offenders

 

The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has announced that the Work Programme is going to be extended to ex-offenders as part of the Government’s response to the riots.

Full details of the scheme have yet to be finalised but it is understood that there will be pilots in two contract package areas which will begin from as early as March 2012.

A spokesperson from the Employment Related Services Association (ERSA) said:

ERSA played a key role in helping to facilitate conversations between the relevant government agencies and welfare to work providers to advise them on the development of this policy. This included consultation with all of the Work Programme prime contractors and specialist sub-contractors who have experience working with this customer group. ERSA will continue to work closely with government and our members on its implementation.”

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said:

“From March 2012, every offender who leaves prison won’t just be allowed to drift back into their old life, won’t just be able to drift into a life of worklessness and repeat crime only to turn up in the same prison having been sentenced again for an even more serious offence. If we want to stop for good the outbreak of crime, of looting and criminality, of what we saw last week, we need to get tough on the causes of repeat crime.”

1 Comment

  1. This is fine as long as it is part of a full rehabilitation program that starts on entry to the prison system. Rehabilitation for short term prisoners is very lacking. The time it takes for prisoners to have their applications read and action can take far too long. Many when entering prison will want to sort out their future. This is to ensure they have some where to be released to.
    Folk leaving prison should have the option to move away from the areas they once lived. This will help with the rehabilitation. Forcing folk to do things they are not ready for can have a negative outcome. Some may want to settle down a bit. Putting homeless ex-offenders into hostels is a bad move as well and should be avoided. There needs to be more education, English and maths are the basics that can start someone on a more +ve road.
    NC said “If we want to stop for good the outbreak of crime, of looting and criminality, of what we saw last week, we need to get tough on the causes of repeat crime.” Why does he want to wait for people to repeat offend.
    Put some money into the Prison education system, probation service, local education providers and help the charities that helped.

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