Just Deserts: Delivering a fairer, more efficient and effective justice system

These series of fringe meetings at the three main political party conferences, hosted jointly by the Prison Reform Trust and the Criminal Justice Alliance (along with the Bar Council and Society of Conservative Lawyers at the Conservative conference), will focus on how politicians can deliver a fairer, more efficient and effective justice system.

Among the main aims of the coalition government’s proposed justice reforms are to reduce reoffending, save taxpayers’ money and limit the unnecessary use of custody.

At the 2010 political party conferences, fringe meetings held jointly by the Prison Reform Trust, Criminal Justice Alliance, Fabian Society, Centre Forum and Policy Exchange highlighted the emergence of a political consensus on the necessity of reforming our overcrowding prison system.

This year’s events, which are taking place in the middle of the Parliamentary debate on the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, will provide an opportunity for politicians, policy makers and party members to focus on the practical measures for delivering reform.

Liberal Democrats
Lord McNally, Minister of State, Ministry of Justice; Sir Alan Beith MP, Chair, Justice Committee; Vicki Helyar-Cardwell, Director, Criminal Justice Alliance; Chris Nicholson, Director and Chief Executive, CentreForum
Chair: Juliet Lyon CBE, Director, Prison Reform Trust
Monday 19 September 2011, 1 – 2pm, Room 106, Jurys Inn, 245 Broad St, Birmingham, B1 2HQ
In partnership with Criminal Justice Alliance
Labour
Sadiq Khan MP, Shadow Justice Minister; Dr Mary Harris OBE, Director, National Grid Young Offender Programme, with a National Grid Apprentice; Javed Khan, Chief Executive, Victim Support; Juliet Lyon CBE, Director, Prison Reform Trust;
Chair: Erwin James, Columnist, The Guardian
Monday 26 September, 1 – 2pm, Premier Inn Liverpool Albert Dock, East Britannia Building, Albert Dock, Liverpool, L3 4AD
In partnership with Criminal Justice Alliance
Conservatives
Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice; Peter Lodder QC, Chairman, Bar Council; Juliet Lyon CBE, Director, Prison Reform Trust; Mary Riddell, Columnist, Telegraph
Chair: Oliver Heald MP, Chairman, Society of Conservative Lawyers
Tuesday 4 October, 1.00 – 2.30pm, Stanley Room, Midland Hotel, Peter Street, M60 2DS*
In partnership with Criminal Justice Alliance, Bar Council, and Society of Conservative Lawyers

*The Conservative event is inside the secure zone and will require a conference pass to attend. Events at the Labour and Liberal Democrat conference are outside of the secure zones and do not require conference passes.

Out for good: what makes for effective rehabilitation

The Prison Reform Trust and National Grid will be hosting a joint reception at this year’s Conservative party conference entitled Out for good: what makes for effective rehabilitation.

The reception will be an opportunity for business leaders, heads of charities and voluntary sector organisations, MPs, councillors and local authority leaders, policymakers and criminal justice professionals to gather and consider how they can work together to deliver successful rehabilitation and resettlement services in the community.

National Grid coordinates the Young Offenders Programme which has pioneered business involvement in the rehabilitation of offenders. More than 80 companies are engaged in the Programme which has worked with more than 1,500 offenders. It operates in over 22 prisons including both adult and young offender establishments.

With Crispin Blunt MP, Minister for Prisons and Probation, Ministry of Justice