Policymakers To Discuss Alternatives To Custody

Main Category: Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 08 Jun 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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Experts in criminology will discuss 'Alternatives to Custodial Sentencing' at a Parliamentary seminar organised by the British Psychological Society and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Social Services and Policy. The event takes place at Westminster on Tuesday 16 June (4.30 - 6.00 p.m.)

The seminar will consider the challenges of bringing in alternatives to custody, looking at the relative effectiveness of different approaches, how they could be brought in across the country and the likely public response to such a change.

Chaired by Alan Simpson MP, chair of the All-Party Group, the event will include presentations from Prof. Mike Hough, Prof. Julian Roberts and John Samuels QC.

Prof. Mike Hough is Professor of Criminal Policy in the School of Law, King's College London, and Director of the Institute for Criminal Policy. He will argue that the emerging approach, where case managers administrate the provision of support, surveillance and programmes for offenders, risks losing touch with the probation craft of persuading people to change their behaviour.

Prof. Julian Roberts is Professor of Criminology at the University of Oxford. His presentation will look at public and professional resistance to community penalties. How strong is this resistance and on what is it based? Can it be overcome by the provision of information on the effectiveness of these penalties?

John Samuels QC is chair of the Howard League for Penal Reform's legal management committee and has sat on the judging panel for its Community Programmes Award for four years.

Source
British Psychological Society