OFFENDERS serving short custodial sentences will now be subject to supervision in the community and if they do not comply with the supervision requirements, magistrates will have new powers to deal with them, including sending offenders back to custody for up to a fortnight.

This will mean magistrates will play a crucial role in the rehabilitation of offenders Justice Minister Damian Green said today.

Provisions in the Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014 mean that for the first time offenders who go to jail for less than 12 months will be supervised in the community for one year after they leave prison.

After a period on licence, they will have a further period of rehabilitative support in the community.

Offenders who breach the conditions of that supervision, for example by failing to attend a drug or alcohol rehabilitation programmes or not turning up to training, can be brought before a magistrate and face returning to prison for up to two weeks.

They can also face fines, curfews with electronic tags or being required to do work in the community.

Mr Green said: “Since 1285, magistrates have played an important role in administrating local justice. They are the cornerstone of the Criminal Justice System, and bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience from outside the legal system.

“Thankfully crime is falling, but we must make sure that the role of magistrates continues to reflect modern society and we use their expertise to address stubbornly high reoffending rates.

“This new power will mean magistrates can help us respond quickly to offenders who breach their supervision conditions and help keep them on the straight and narrow.”