Call to boost prison-community links

Prison officers should give public talks to increase awareness of the work done by jails, the justice secretary has said.

Jack Straw used a speech on Wednesday to announce that governors should have a "more visible presence", visiting schools and businesses to inform people about projects and reduce reoffending.

He also said that up to four new specialist drug courts could be established following the "success" of trials in London and Leeds.

An evaluation of the drug court pilot schemes will be published next week and Straw said they could reduce reconviction rates, lead to fewer missed court appearances and a higher chance of sentences being completed.

"As a result of these successful pilots, I have asked HM Courts Service to establish up to a further four drugs courts," he said.

"I would like to see prison governors strengthening links with local employers, voluntary organisations, schools and community groups and being a more visible local presence," he said.

"I think that it is important that people understand the role and reality of prison and are told about the efforts being made to tackle reoffending and the steps being taken to turn those leaving through the prison gates into constructive members of society."

Prisoners would also be encouraged to take part in a "timebank" scheme in which they use their jail term to help the community, the justice secretary said.

"An hour's work from a prisoner on the inside could mean a lift to the shops for an elderly person on the outside, or a hospital visit or time spent by volunteers to clean up the local park," he added.