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States of Jersey Prison Service Submission Dear Deputy Ward
Thank you for your letter dated 3 July inviting the States of Jersey Prison Service to comment on the Petition: Higher Sentences for Paedophiles.
I trust the following information is useful.
SoJPS work with sex offenders
Based on best practice, each individual prisoner is assessed on sentencing. Individual assessments are also conducted to establish motivation and specific criminogenic need. Interventions are undertaken working therapeutically on life history, offending history, detailed offence analysis, victim empathy, relapse prevention and coping strategies. This is based on current research and understanding of sex offender treatment. For others, where necessary, material is adapted in line with the prisoner's learning style, level of intellectual functioning and areas of risk and criminogenic need. Work is delivered by a team of 2 full time and one part time qualified Forensic Psychologists. All sexual offenders are offered the opportunity to address their sexual offending behaviour, provided they have the capacity to engage and are motivated so to do. Those who are not yet ready' are encouraged to undertake motivational work with a psychologist as a precursor to undertaking sex offender treatment.
Sentencing
Sentencing is a matter for the courts and judiciary, and what they determine is suitable for each case. The role of the SoJPS is to deliver the sentence ordered by the court, manage prisoner during the sentence, and to prepare the prisoner for eventual release and reintegration back into the community.
Nick Cameron | Governor and Head of SoJ Prison Service Department for Justice and Home Affairs
La Rue Baal, St Brelade, Jersey, JE3 8HQ.
States Greffe: Scrutiny
Mr Nick Cameron
Prison Governor
States of Jersey Prison Service La Moye Prison
La Rue Baal
St. Brelade
JE3 8HQ
3rd July 2019 Dear Nick,
Petition: Higher Sentences for Paedophiles
I am writing to you in relation to the E-Petition calling for mandatory minimum sentences for convicted paedophiles, and that they are placed on the sexual offences register for life. As you will be aware, the petition has recently reached the 5,000 signatures mark and has been scheduled for an in-committee debate during the next States sitting on Tuesday 16th July.
In order to inform the debate, I would be grateful if you could provide the Panel with an overview of the work that is conducted with registered sex offenders within the Prison Service, especially in relation to any therapeutic interventions that are carried out. The Panel would also be interested to understand your views on the concept of mandatory minimum sentences and whether you believe that they are an effective means of preventing both initial and repeat offending.
Given the proximity of the debate, I would be grateful of a written response in the first instance by Friday 12th July, however, please let our Scrutiny Officer (a.harris5@gov.je) know if you wish to speak with the Panel. It is the intention of the Panel to publish any information received on the States Assembly website so that it can be pointed to during the debate.
Thank you for your assistance in this matter. Yours Sincerely,
Deputy R. Ward
Chairman, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel
Scrutiny Office | States Greffe | Morier House | St Helier | Jersey | JE1 1DD Tel: 01534 441080 | Fax: 01534 441077 | email: scrutiny@gov.je
Website: statesassembly.gov.je/scrutiny