MoJ starts national roll-out of scheme for giving public a voice in offender punishment

The Ministry of Justice has started the national roll-out of a scheme giving local people the chance to suggest how young offenders should be punished.

The Making Good scheme – which allows residents to suggest reparation activities that should be carried out in their areas – has been launched in the North East follows a successful pilot in the North West.

Public suggestions are subject to conditions and a risk assessment. The basic premise is that public suggestions should:

• Be meaningful and beneficial to the local community and to young offenders
• Not take paid work away from others, and
• Not make a profit for anyone.

In the North-West pilot,  9,900 people visited the scheme's website and more than 130 suggestions were put forward.

Public suggestions will now be considered by 12 youth offending teams including those in County Durham, Darlington, Gateshead, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Northumberland.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw said: “Over the past two-and-a-half months we have seen how the Making Good pilot in the North West has helped young people, while also giving the public a voice in how justice has delivered. A small minority of young people commit crime and behave anti-socially – and it is vital these young people are dealt with quickly and appropriately.”

South Tyneside’s Youth Offending Service Manager, Pam Vedhara, said: “South Tyneside YOS is absolutely committed to supporting young people who offend to understand the effects of their behaviour on others in the community and to give them the opportunity to use their punishment time to do something positive for the borough.”