In December 2005 a focused programme looking to implement some of RCP's findings was launched. The programme aimed 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's desired outcomes were:

• 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 had three strands. In the first, the Thames Valley Partnership carried 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 visited probation and community service projects in the Thames Valley area, and discussed their experiences. The third strand contributed 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. For more information on the Howard League Handbook.

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

Rethinking Crime & Punishmentwais 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 grant-making programme to fund a range of projects to increase public understanding and involvement in the criminal justice system. The grant-making was underpinned by research into the effectiveness of the current system and on public attitudes to criminal justice. This grantmaking phase has now closed.

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