The Queen’s speech - rehabilitation of offenders

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the professional body for all those involved in people management and development, comments on the Government’s proposal to improve the rehabilitation of offenders.

Dianah Worman, CIPD Diversity Adviser, An important factor that has been missed is the role of employment and this can play a major part in reducing crime. The government needs to do more to ensure that appropriate rehabilitation programmes are in place and that they are properly geared towards the needs of employers to assist ex-offenders to return to work. Government needs to engage with employers to ensure that ex-prisoners in-particular have been given skills that are relevant to the job market in their own home area, but also to ensure that employers legitimate fears about employing ex-offenders are addressed.

Research shows employment has a major part to play in reducing reoffending, which costs the country billions of pounds every year. Minor offenders can be dramatically disadvantaged by the stigma of a criminal conviction, and then joblessness can become a major factor in reoffending. Both the ex-offender and society are losing out because of current attitudes. If policy makers can tackle this double jeopardy, the economy will benefit from reduced crime and an easing of skills shortages. CIPD’s guide, Employers and offenders, offers employers a guide on how to recruit ex-offenders and makes the case for employing ex-offenders, dealing with concerns and issues.