1. Policy & Research
2. Our policy goals

We call on the government to:

• Consult on a Green Paper leading to a truly joined up, cross departmental “multiple needs” strategy to drive the necessary reform of public services.

• Use this to inform a new crime and reoffending strategy that focuses on people who are in repeat contact with the criminal justice system.

• Increase access to services for offenders on short prison sentences to help them with housing, health and treatment needs especially immediately on leaving prison.

• Ensure the pathways established within the criminal justice system – to help people cope effectively with all aspects of rebuilding their lives – are supported back in the community by local services.

• Incentivise and prioritise local service providers to share ownership of cases across areas of responsibility (e.g. drugs, alcohol, mental health, housing) when people are coming out of the criminal justice system.

• Ensure local authorities, health commissioners and their partners take responsibility for this group and work together and with service users to develop and implement a local strategy to meet local need.

• Ensure service user experience is monitored nationally and locally to help identify new issues and potential solutions.

We call on front line services to:

• Identify someone to be the lead person working with each individual who will have the authority and responsibility to work across agencies to ensure services are in place.

• Make available officers and practitioners within police stations or other front line services who have an understanding of mental health issues.

• Involve service users in the planning and development of services.

These goals are set out in more detail in our Case for Change. This was sent to all parliamentary candidates in May 2010 ahead of the general election.

Over the next year we will be working with partners to develop a comprehensive "Vision Paper" setting out how the government can bring the change we want to see.