Today’s Sentencing Review marks a long-overdue shift in our criminal justice system—one that recognises that real rehabilitation happens in communities, not cells. The recommendations set out offer a crucial opportunity to reduce reoffending and support people to build better lives.
We especially welcome the Review’s emphasis on the voluntary sector’s role in supporting people throughout their justice journey. For years, Changing Lives has worked alongside individuals affected by the criminal justice system—delivering trauma-informed, gender-responsive services that break cycles of offending and marginalisation.
The proposed reforms echo what we've long championed:
- Moving the emphasis from punishment to rehabilitation
- Complementing the vital work of the probation service with investment in accommodation, healthcare and other wraparound support
- Greater flexibility within the criminal justice system to allow for a more person-centred approach
- Acknowledging how the current system can often set people up to fail, especially those with multiple unmet needs
- A gender-informed approach that considers how women are differently impacted by the criminal justice system
These changes, if backed by meaningful investment and long-term vision, could be transformative. We stand ready to work with Government and partners to make them a reality.
