In December 2005 a focused programme looking to implement some of RCP's findings was launched. The programme aims to increase public and judicial engagement with community based sentences in order to promote confidence in their use as an alternative to prison. The programme is not open to grant applications.

The programme's desired outcomes are:

• A higher profile for community penalties.
• Improved awareness and understanding by the public (local people, voluntary and statutory organisations, businesses).
• Greater confidence in their use (local people, judiciary, voluntary and statutory organisations, businesses).
• Take up and implementation of learning from the programme by government, statutory organisations, voluntary organisations etc.
• Stronger evidence on the case for (or against) a stand-alone organisation to promote/inform/research community penalties.

The programme has three strands. In the first, the Thames Valley Partnership will carry out a large-scale pilot project, testing new ways for the public to influence what forms of unpaid work should be available for offenders as part of a community sentence. In the second, magistrates and judges will engage in visits to probation and community service projects in the Thames Valley area, and discuss thier experiences. The third strand is a contribution to a national awards scheme set up by the Howard League for Penal Reform to recognise, encourage and publicise best practice in community work with offenders.

The Wates Foundation and the Henry Smith Charity are funding partners in this programme.

Rethinking Crime & Punishment is a strategic initiative set up by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation in 2001. It aimed to raise the level of public debate about the use of prison and alternative forms of punishment in the UK.

The first phase was a £2 million directed grantmaking programme to fund a range of projects to increase public understanding and involvement in the criminal justice system. The grantmaking was underpinned by research into the effectiveness of the current system and on public attitudes to criminal justice. This grantmaking phase has now closed.

We have since been engaged in communicating and disseminating the lessons learned from the first phase, promoting rational and effective policy to help reduce crime.

The need to rethink crime and punishment

It is widely agreed that the British penal system is not working as it should for victims, offenders or the wider community. The prison population is increasing but society does not feel increasingly protected from violence and crime. High proportions of prisoners re-offend and are not equipped for constructive employment in society. Yet prison, in spite of its costs, enjoys popularity as a policy response.

Rethinking Crime & Punishment hopes to raise the level of debate and contribute to more rational and evidence based policy-making.

Article on Rethinking Crime and Punishment's second phase programme in Criminal Justice Matters (Winter 2005/6)
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