Ministry of Justice’s consultation Strengthening Probation, Building Confidence

Clinks has responded to the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) consultation Strengthening Probation, Building Confidence.

Clinks welcomes the consultation on the future of probation services. Clinks recommended that the MoJ hold an open consultation into the purpose and structure of probation services after our research highlighted the damaging impact previous probation reforms have had on the voluntary sector working in criminal justice.

In our response we stress the need for ongoing engagement with the voluntary sector in the design of the new model and the need for providers to treat the voluntary sector as an equal partner. We make a series of recommendations to ensure that voluntary sector organisations are better protected and sufficiently funded and to require providers to commission specialist services.

See also: Notes from the roundtable on Strengthening probation, building confidence