The role of the third sector in work with offenders: the perceptions of criminal justice and third sector stakeholders

This paper examines the views of national criminal justice and third sector stakeholders in England on the strategic position of the sector and its role in the resettlement of offenders. The interview data suggests that although the involvement of the third sector in the criminal justice system is promoted in national policy, considerable gaps have been identified. These include the quality and availability of regional commissioning, implementation strategies and the long-term plans for the re-specification of the criminal justice system. The findings also indicate that increasing emphasis on competitive policy may put a strain on future inter-sector partnerships. The implications of the findings are discussed and areas of further research are highlighted in relation to both the prison and probation services.