Do you sometimes find yourself exasperated by one-sided articles in the papers? Has your local MP made a statement in the House that you profoundly disagree with? Did a Newsnight or Today programme report make your blood boil? One of the most accessible, most immediate ways to get involved in the criminal justice system is to get involved in the debate.

WHAT?

Local action starts with your town or parish council, your local papers and radio stations. These organisations or businesses are part of your local community and it is therefore very important to them that they accurately represent the views of their 'constituents'.

Nationally your targets are MPs, TV and radio stations, daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, national bodies such as the prison service, the immigration service, and a variety of government departments such as The Home Office and The Department of Health. Those of you with international agendas might be looking at institutions such as the United Nations or The European Parliament.

WHO?

You will need clarity, accuracy and the ability to express yourself well. Above all, you will need to know what you are talking about. Whether responding as an individual or as part of a faith or community group you will need to decide on what area of criminal justice you are going to focus, and get yourself as fully acquainted with that subject as you can.

HOW?

Try to ensure that your letter is concise. No more than one page! Be specific. If you refer to any Bills or Papers make sure you cite them correctly. Be clear about what you expect of the person you are writing to. If you are writing on behalf of a group make sure you provide full details of the group's contact person.

If you are writing to the press try to make sure that:

• Your correspondence ties in with running stories, as this will give greater chance of publication.
• Make sure that you match your language and style of argument to the style of the publication to which you are writing. It is pointless writing to a tabloid with reams of statistics and complex arguments about philosophical issues. Likewise a letter to the broad sheets that simply consists of a tirade of invective is unlikely to get printed.
• You avoid jargon and rhetoric and try to keep it short.
• You establish a good reputation so that they will come to you for comment, this of course takes time!
• Produce copy that they will be eager to print. What starts off as a one off letter might turn into a dialogue that could easily metamorphose into an article.

If you are phoning a politician or an organisation, you will need to:

• Get the name and position of the person you are speaking to; these people control access so be friendly.
• Make sure you clearly identify yourself and your group and be sure to leave specific unambiguous messages about the nature of your call. It does no harm to subsequently drop a line directly to the aide you spoke to thanking them for their assistance.

Calling a radio or television phone in programme is a quick, easy and astoundingly cost effective way of getting an issue aired in front of a large audience. For maximum effectiveness:

• Be well prepared. Write an outline of what you want to say.
• Keep it brief, focusing on two or three points.
• Don't let yourself be drawn into an argument or discussion on points that you are unclear on.
• Stay cool calm and collected, it's your chance to make one minute of air time count, so make the most of it, you never know when you'll get another chance.