Implementation of the Transforming Rehabilitation Programme

Transforming Rehabilitation is a programme of reform which began under the previous Coalition Government. It seeks to change the way in which offenders in England and Wales are managed in the community to bring down reoffending rates whilst ensuring public protection.

The reforms included the creation of a new National Probation Service, a reorganisation of the prison system to include resettlement prisons for offenders soon to be released and the privatisation of prisoner rehabilitation by contracting 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs).

Pilot schemes, known as ‘test gate 4’ and ‘test gate 5’ were run towards the end of 2014, and the CRCs began running on 1 February 2015. The reforms continue to be implemented and certain resettlement services are now up and running. According to the Ministry of Justice’s original strategy document, all reforms should have been implemented by the end of 2015.

Debate packs are intended to provide a summary or overview of the issues being debated and identify any relevant briefings including press and parliamentary material. A more detailed briefing may be prepared for a Member on request to the Library.