The House of Commons Justice Select Committee will hold an inquiry into penal policy and crime reduction.
Following a focus on Transforming Rehabilitation, the inquiry will examine the Government's penal policy in the broader context of cross-departmental crime reduction related policies, and reflect on whether the proposed direction of travel represents a strategic and sustainable approach towards the best use of scarce resources in the context of the next Comprehensive Spending Review.
The inquiry will consider the following broad questions:
What is the Government's approach to cutting crime? To what extent is the approach taken cross-departmental and how are resources for such policies—from within and outside the criminal justice system—allocated and targeted?
How reliable is the evidence on which these policies are based?
What impact have recent spending reductions had on the implementation of crime reduction policies, and the way in which resources for crime reduction are channelled at local level?
What contribution do existing sentencing, prison and probation policies make to the reduction of crime?
What is the role of penal policy and sentencing in shaping public perception of punishment and reform?
How cost-effective and sustainable are the Government's strategies for punishment and reform and their proposals for transforming rehabilitation?
Steve Brine, who is a member of the JSC, said: "I am very much looking forward to this next inquiry. I am sure that we will cover a lot of ground and really delve into these issues, examining the evidence extremely closely."
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