Legislation / Legal

MoJ: A new Compact outlining the level of behaviour expected from prisoners and offenders in the community is to be piloted, Minister for Prisons David Hanson MP has announced to Parliament. Proposals for Offender Compacts, which require offenders to commit to rehabilitation or face the possibility of penalties, was first announced in the Ministry of Justice's Prison Policy Update paper in January.
 
The new Compacts will be piloted in HMP Drake Hall, HMP Shrewsbury, HMYOI Brinsford and a probation area in the West Midlands and will emphasise that any advantages offenders receive must be earned through commitment, hard work, and delivery against the aims of their Sentence Plans.  They will begin on 21 July and will run for an initial six months with the aim of being rolled out across all prisons and probation areas in 2009.
 
This will complement and build upon the Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme currently used by prisons to maintain order & control and put consistency into requirements expected of offenders on probation. A new 'End of Custody Report', linked to the Compact, will also be piloted for those serving custodial sentences of less than 12 months.  These recognise positive behaviour & engagement in constructive activity, and can be presented to employers on release.
Press release ~ Earned Privileges Scheme ~ Ministry of Justice's Prison Policy Update
 
HO: People who commit sex offences against children abroad will face prosecution in the UK even if that offence is not illegal in the foreign country it was committed, as from 14 July 2008.
 
The new legislation, contained in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, means that UK nationals who commit a specified sexual offence against a child overseas which may not be an offence in that country but is an offence here can expect to be prosecuted for the offence on their return to the UK.
Press release ~ Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 ~ Closed consultation on the Possession of Non-Photographic Visual Depictions of Child Sexual Abuse and government response ~ Council of Europe's Convention on the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse ~ Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre
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