Offenders to Fund Education Courses for Out-of-Court Resolutions

In the future, individuals who receive out-of-court resolutions (OoCR) will be required to cover the cost of associated education courses. An OoCR serves as a caution available to first-time offenders involved in offenses like criminal damage, shoplifting, or common assault. These resolutions include an educational component, which is presently financed by police forces. Insp Laura Stevenson, responsible for offender management within the Norfolk and Suffolk police forces, stated: “If we can take a more direct approach and offer an out-of-court resolution with some diversionary educational measures, it reduces reoffending and frees up the court system.” Approximately 600 OoCRs are issued monthly across these two counties. Police officers will determine the suitability of a crime for an OoCR, also referred to as an out-of-court disposal. Insp Stevenson’s team will evaluate the evidence and establish the terms of the resolution, including the specific training. Starting next year, Rise Mutual, a new provider, will manage the educational aspect of OoCRs, and offenders will be responsible for their own payment. The cost will range from £75 to £110, depending on the training type. These courses are conducted online and overseen by facilitators to ensure proper offender participation. Insp Stevenson commented: “We’ve got two types of courses and they’re both very much in their infancy. “When you get a caution you will have to pay to do the course.” She added that “The money goes directly to the company that offers those courses – not into the police bank accounts.” Nationally, crown courts currently face a backlog of approximately 68,000 cases, with a record 17,000 suspects held on remand awaiting trial. Courts Minister Heidi Alexander indicated that measures are being implemented to alleviate the backlog in Suffolk, such as relocating certain cases to Cambridge and extending the number of court sitting days. Insp Stevenson, a police officer for over 20 years, stated she had been “converted” to employing OoCRs for addressing “low-level” crimes. She explained, “It is proven to have a better rate of reducing reoffending because people understand that they made a mistake and don’t tend to reoffend again afterwards.” OoCRs would not be an option for offenses that carry custodial sentences. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.