All Options

For many offenders, a prison sentence is necessary for the exercise of justice, for the protection of the public and for the prevention of crime. The jurisdiction of England & Wales (EW), as well as Scotland, does not shy away its use – in fact, we imprison people at a higher rate than most other jurisdictions in Western
Europe.

Through the course of this paper, the case will be made for the introduction of a new custodial sentence for the criminal courts, the Intensive Control and Rehabilitation Order (ICRO). This new sentence would be
served in the community, using Electronic Monitoring, curfew requirements and regular periodic reviews before the court. The availability and development of technology means that we can go further than ever before in seeking alternatives to custody which robustly punish the offender, while safeguarding the public
and commanding the confidence of sentencers.

The ICRO presents an opportunity for individuals to serve their sentence without ever being separated from their families – saving thousands of children from the
trauma of parental imprisonment. It would also allow for individuals to engage in work and education programmes in the community to pay back the community and their victim where this is achievable.