The Winchester & Chandler's Ford MP was delighted to be able to mention the event, which took place on Friday 7th March and was hosted by Hampshire's High Sheriff and the Police & Crime Commissioner.
Addressing the Minister, Jeremy Wright, Steve said that while we must bring short-term persistent offenders into supervision, we should invest heavily in treatment and give sentencers real options such as the successful Right on Crime initiative in Texas.
Jeremy Wright, who alongside the Lord Chancellor Chris Grayling will receive a White Paper from the conference, agreed that allowing greater flexibility to rehabilitation providers to do what they believe is necessary to turn offenders, particularly those with drink and drug problems, away from crime was the right thing to do.
He also stressed that is better to divert those with a mental health problem away from the Criminal Justice System in the first place.
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As a member of the influential Justice Select Committee, Steve visited Texas last summer, and you can read more about what the committee learnt here.
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