For more detailed information and direct feedback from our team,
For more detailed information and direct feedback from our team,
INTRODUCTION
The bail accommodation support service scheme will allow courts to bail defendants who are currently unable to provide a bail address or who could not be bailed without support. It will also provide accommodation and support for offenders who are nearing the end of their sentence and are eligible to be released on Home Detention Curfew (HDC) on an electronic tag from prison and therefore ready to be rehabilitated back into their community.
Why has the scheme been introduced?
The scheme has been introduced to take people out of prison who do not need to be there. This builds on the presumption of innocence for those who have not yet had their cases heard and also on a presumption that bail should be approved where possible.
The scheme was initiated in response to surveys undertaken by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) that identified a need from sentencers for additional bail accommodation and support for defendants who could otherwise be bailed if accommodation was made available. It was introduced on Monday 18 June 2007 to enable the courts and prison governors to make greater use of bail and early release on a strict curfew.
This accommodation will also reduce the loss of liberty and consequent damaging impacts on family life, employment and housing. It will support the efficient use of public resources, saving on prison places where a stay in prison in not necessary, court escorts and costs of visits to prisons.
Who is the scheme for?
Everyone on the scheme would otherwise be in the community if they had their own suitable accommodation. A court may also consider that other people who are returned to their homes may benefit from the support the scheme offers.
Who releases people on bail?
Whether or not to grant bail is an independent judicial decision. Offenders on Home Detention Curfew Scheme (HDC) are low risk offenders, who are deemed appropriate for early release by their Prison Governor. This excludes offenders with convictions for any sexual offence, cruelty to children or racially aggravated offences.
What is Home Detention Curfew?
HDC was first introduced in January 1999 and enables a managed transition to the community, providing some structure for offenders as they leave prison and reintegrate into society. If an offender breaches their curfew, they face recall to prison.
Why this area?
This is a national scheme which will operate in all regional government areas and Wales. The specific towns and cities have been designated by the local Regional Offender Manager. This means that, working on the statistics that exist, the Regional Offender Manager believes there is a local need for such a service for local offenders. Numbers in any single area are low and the overall aim for people to return to as close to their home as possible.
How serious are the offences that the service users are charged with?
Our service users are those who would be released from court if they had an address to go to that the court or prison feels would be appropriate and sustainable
Will there be staff on the property 24 hours?
No, this isn’t necessary for these service users although they are visited regularly for planned contact sessions for the purposes of property management and progressing individual support plans.
How long will service users be with you?
Service users will be in the service until their case is resolved or their period of licence has expired. This is usually a period of months.
Will any children be amongst the service users?
There may be very few occasions when service users with dependant children will be using the service. Where children are joining service users, they are housed as a family and do not share with other service users.
What level of support are service users given?
Support at the accommodation will be provided by trained and experienced staff. Through regular contact sessions a support officer will help the individual to comply with the conditions of bail, to maintain the 'tenancy' and address any offending-related needs, in part through engaging existing specialist public and voluntary services as appropriate. Behaviour will be monitored, with breach procedures initiated as necessary. All service users will sign a compact pledging their agreement and adherence to the rules of the scheme
What happens after the service is complete?
Service users are assisted to move on through the information and advice services that exist locally. They are given support to access independent accommodation and reintegrate into their local community.
Will former service users stay in the area?
Experience so far has seen a variety of outcomes including a negotiated return home for many and a move into employment and private lets for others.
What level of risk do these service users represent?
Only service users representing no risk of significant harm to others will be eligible for the scheme. They would normally be free to walk from court it is just that they need an address which this scheme will provide them with, therefore this is simply another option for courts to use.
Who is measuring risk?
As an organisation, we take risk assessment very seriously and recognise we have a responsibility not only to our service users and staff but also to the communities in which we are active. We will not accept referrals without risk and needs information and it is the court who makes the final decision as it is the court who has access to all relevant information about the potential user of the service. The ultimate accountability is with the court and the service is delivered under the authority of the court. ClearSprings will then undertake a risk assessment which looks at the service user in their new surroundings. Finally, all staff will undertake a lone working risk assessment before every visit.
What if things go wrong?
Service Users sign an agreement which details the behaviour that is expected of them and that if they do not comply with the scheme under the authority of the court, then they will be breached which means they will be returned to or remanded in custody.
Is the accommodation supposed to be secure?
No, not in any way.
Is this really a bail hostel?
No, the service and staff groups bear no relation to a bail hostel operation nor that of approved premises, this is simply supported accommodation whilst service users are waiting to answer to a court or preparing to be re-settled in their communities.
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In December 2007 Lord Keith Bradley was asked by the Government to undertake an independent review to determine to what extent offenders with mental health problems or learning disabilities could be diverted from prison to other services and what were the barriers to such diversion.
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