Prison Reform Groups 'Must Focus On Victims' Needs'

Prison reform campaigners must focus on the needs of the victims, rather than offenders, the Justice Secretary has said today, in an attack of the "criminal justice lobby".

In a speech on prison policy to the Royal Society of Arts, Jack Straw is to call for a rebalancing of criminal justice priorities to give victims a stronger voice.

Mr Straw used the speech to urge a return to the "language of punishment and reform" and make it clear the justice system's major priority is to serve victims and law-abiding people.

"When I hear phrases like 'criminogenic needs of offenders' it drives me nuts," Mr Straw said at the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA).

"First it is pretty impenetrable jargon designed to put a barrier between practitioner and public, and second because I profoundly disagree that we should describe someone's amoral desire to go thieving as a 'need' equivalent of that of victims or the law-abiding public."

He also said that while the prison reform lobby is made up of committed and dedicated people, they "sometimes forget who the victim is, so lost do they become in the fog of platitudes and debate over the 'needs' of the offenders".

He added: "We can all do more to support victims, indeed I challenge those of you who rightly work so effectively to keep up the pressure on government over standards in prison to put the victim more at the heart of your work.

He denies the language used does not "signal a return to some Victorian notion of crime", adding "it does mean being crystal clear about what the public expert the justice system to do on their behalf: to punish those who have broken the law".

The speech also emphasised the Justice Secretary's Punishment and Reform agenda, which combines the need to punish those who have broken society's rules with an obligation on the part of the offender to make amends - to reform.

The recently announced offender compacts set standards of behaviour expected of prisoners whilst in custody and on release. The expectation is that prisoners will not only maintain good behaviour in prison but will also commit to reform.

(JM)