Enforcement

Research has shown that sentences which are effectively enforced are more likely to be completed by offenders and their risk of re-offending is therefore more likely to be reduced.  Criteria for the enforcement of Community Orders and Licences are clearly laid down in National Probation Service and the Ministry of Justice lays down challenging targets to probation areas to achieve this.  In Cumbria we are currently achieving this target.

Community Orders and Licences are therefore rigorously enforced by the Cumbria Probation Trust.  Any unacceptable behaviour by the offender or failure to attend appointments will lead to offenders being taken back to Court.  This can result in their original sentence being increase, or even in them being sent to prison.  A recent joint protocol with HM Court’s Service (End to end enforcement) has mean that there is very little delay in the offender actually breaching their order to being sentenced.

For offenders who are serving the rest of their prison sentence on licence, any failures to attend or further offending results in them being recalled to prison within 24 hours – or within two hours if they are considered dangerous.  This process bypasses the Courts (with the exception of young offenders).  Offenders will then serve out the remainder of their sentence, as well as any additional time imposed for further offences where relevant.

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