Prisons bill will reform offenders

CRIMINALS behind bars from Halton will have the chance to rebuild their lives while in custody more than ever before after the Justice Secretary announced new legislation.

The Prisons And Courts Bill is paving the way for the biggest overhaul of prisons in a generation and transform how they are run.

A Ministry Of Justice (MOJ) spokesman said it will put into law for the first time that a key purpose of prisons is to reform offenders, as well as punish them for the crimes they have committed.

They will help to give offenders the skills they need to turn their lives around to help drive down the £15bn annual cost to society of reoffending.

Justice Secretary Elizabeth Truss said: “Prison is about punishing people who have committed heinous crimes, but it should be a place where offenders are given the opportunity to turn their lives around. I want our prisons to be places of discipline, hard work and self-improvement, where staff are empowered to get people off drugs, improve their English and maths and get a job on release.

“Our courts should be places where victims get the justice they deserve, and where our outstanding independent judiciary can flourish and focus on the cases that matter.”

The Government is also giving courts the power to put an end to domestic violence victims being quizzed by their attackers in the family courts, calling time on what Ms Truss said is a ‘humiliating and appalling’ practice.

Car insurance premiums will also be cut by around £40 a year with new fixed tariffs capping whiplash compensation pay-outs and a ban on claims without medical evidence, helping to crack down on the compensation culture epidemic.

The legislation also aims to make courts swifter, more accessible and easier to use.

The use of virtual hearings will be extended to allow victims to take part without running the risk of coming face-to-face with their assailant.

Hearings such as bail applications will be resolved via video or telephone conferencing.

The MOJ spokesman added that offenders charged with ‘some less serious’ criminal offences such as failure to produce a ticket for travel on a train will be able to plead guilty online, accept a conviction, be issued a penalty and pay that penalty there and then.

Businesses will be able to recover money easily with digital services that allow them to issue and pursue their cases quickly.