Offender Rehabilitation Bill [HL]

Insert the following new Clause—

“Arrangements for supervision and rehabilitation: female offenders

In section 3 of the Offender Management Act 2007 (power to make
arrangements for the provision of probation services), after subsection (6)
insert—

“(6A)    The Secretary of State must ensure that arrangements under
subsection (2) or (5) for the supervision or rehabilitation of persons
convicted of offences—

(a)   state that the Secretary of State has, in making the
arrangements, complied with the duty under section 149 of
the Equality Act 2010 (public sector equality duty) as it
relates to female offenders, and

(b)   identify anything in the arrangements that is intended to
meet the particular needs of female offenders.””

Insert the following new Clause—

“Provision for veterans’ treatment courts

(1)   Within one year of the passing of this Act, the Secretary of State shall report
to both Houses of Parliament on the case for establishing veterans’
treatment courts for dealing with ex-service personnel convicted of
offences for which non-custodial sentences could be imposed by the trial
court (“relevant ex-service personnel”).

(2)   The report under subsection (1) shall cover but not be limited to the
following—

(a)   the statutory basis of veterans’ treatment courts;

(b)   the composition and functions of veterans’ treatment courts;

(c)   whether veterans’ treatment courts would be of most effect in
diverting, where possible, ex-service personnel from the criminal
courts or in overseeing the rehabilitation of ex-service personnel
offenders sentenced by the criminal courts;

(d)   an estimate of the impact of veterans’ treatment courts on the
rehabilitation of, and in reducing re-offending by, relevant ex-
service personnel;

(e)   an analysis of relevant international comparators; and

(f)   an account of consultation which shall be undertaken with all
relevant parties including magistrates.

(3)   Within six months of the laying of the report under subsection (1), the
Secretary of State may by statutory instrument make provision for one or
more pilot schemes for veterans’ treatment courts, to extend for two years.

(4)   A pilot scheme under subsection (3) shall, within six months of its
conclusion, be independently evaluated, and a report of that evaluation
laid before Parliament.

(5)   Within six months of the laying of the report under subsection (4), the
Secretary of State may by statutory instrument make provision for a
permanent scheme for veterans’ treatment courts.

(6)   A statutory instrument made under subsection (3) or (5) shall be laid
before, and be subject to approval by resolution of, both Houses of
Parliament.”