19/05/10

By Andrew Holt

Research by the Third Sector Research Centre suggests that the role of voluntary organisations in criminal justice may be hampered by resentment from the statutory sector.

Research points to the many benefits that third sector providers can bring to criminal justice provision.

Their ability to develop positive relationships with service users, to engage them in developing services and to build links with the wider community are just some of these.

TSRC conducted interviews with key players in the criminal justice arena, from both the third and statutory sectors.

They found a general consensus for partnership working as the way forward for the third sector. Many saw it as the sector's best chance to become equal players in criminal justice service provision.

Yet many interviewees noted that the way government policy had promoted partnership often led to agencies seeing partners as competitors rather than collaborators.

The statutory sector particularly resented the threat that voluntary organisations posed to their position.

This was seen as especially true of the probation service, where there was almost no evidence of third sector involvement.

Talking about the probation service, one interviewee told the research '[..] that there are other organisations out there who can deliver as well, if not better, some of those roles that they deliver. It's basically a bitter pill to swallow, really, I think.' [Criminal justice stakeholder] Interviewees called for more clarity from commissioning and implementation strategies.

Recent developments have promoted the role of the third sector in the criminal justice system.

Yet this is one of the most controversial arenas for the sector. Some have questioned whether it is appropriate for third sector organisations to take part in criminal justice services at all, especially the running of prisons or other punishment provisions.

Moreover there is debate about the effect of statutory contracts on these organisations - on their objectives or relationships with offenders for example.

Yet, whilst some worried that encouraging third sector provision will divest the state of its welfare role, others pointed out that change is long-overdue.

'I don't think that the provision under the current prison and probation service run by the public sector is actually a beacon of excellence.[..] I'm afraid I just don't think we're in much danger of being terribly deprived.' [Third sector stakeholder]

Whilst third sector organisations face barriers to increased involvement in criminal justice, overcoming these may be a matter of much wider public interest.