A major conference being held at Sheffield Hallam University will hear from a leading expert in dealing with drug-using criminals how a co-ordinated approach by relevant agencies can play a part to prevent re-offending.
Paul Hayes, CEO of the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, will be speaking at the seventh annual Community Justice Portal Public Lecture to give a lecture entitled: 'Managing offenders in the community - everyone's solution no-one's job'.
Paul said: "Although individuals have to take responsibility for their decision to offend and its consequences for victims, few would deny that the social and economic circumstances in which offenders live shape their choices."
He said that while there is a policy and political consensus, exemplified through slogans such as "Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime" and "Breakdown Britain", that no one agency has overall control.
Paul added: "We need to address the factors underpinning offending, such as worklessness, poverty of aspiration, dependency, mental illness and homelessness if we are to tackle unacceptably high re-offending rates.
"And by getting the various agencies in this field working together, we can deliver a dynamic, forward-looking, and optimistic treatment system which enables the individual to make the best of themselves, for the benefit of themselves and the rest of society.
"Such a system would be capable of not just of saving lives and reducing crime, but also of enhancing recovery.”
Paul's lecture will examine the recent history of addressing the issues and why there is no clear accountable agency to tackle the problem, and he will explain how the issues may be overcome.
Professor Paul Senior, Head of Hallam Centre for Community Justice at Sheffield Hallam, said: "This is a wonderful opportunity for everyone working in the offending field to hear about the opportunities available and how we can best integrate offender management not just for drug offenders but all offenders to deliver the results we know can be achieved."
The 7th Annual Community Justice Portal Public Lecture will be held at Sheffield Hallam University on Thursday 14 May 2009 at 6:00pm. To book a place and get more information go to: http://www.cjp.org.uk/lecture/
For more information please contact Steve Lumley at Sheffield Hallam University 0114 225 2811
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Notes to editors:
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Paul Hayes has been Chief Executive of the National Treatment Agency (NTA) since 2001. The Agency was established to oversee the expansion in drug treatment planned by the government. Although part of the NHS, the NTA works closely with probation, police, prisons and the YTB to provide drug treatment to offenders and regards the reduction of drug related crime as a key part of its core business. Prior to joining the NTA, Paul worked for the Probation Service for more than 20 years.
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Paul Hayes is available for interview. Contact: Claire Ainsley, public affairs manager at NTA, on 020 7972 1922.
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The Community Justice Portal is a virtual environment where information exchange, networking and e-learning can take place amongst those working in the community and criminal justice system. The portal is managed by the Hallam Centre for Community Justice, based in Sheffield Hallam University's Faculty of Development and Society.
