Voluntary Sector involvement in Criminal Justice

Ties to localism, civil society, and marketization combined with the need for austerity have led to an increase in efforts to enhance or alter the involvement of the voluntary sector organizations (Dacombe & Morrow, 2016). Such actions have resulted in a heated debate about the essence of involving these organizations in criminal justice. Starting with the advantages, the third force is a pertinent partner in the delivery and implementation of essential services and should be engaged in the criminal justice system to improve efficiency (Gelsthorpe & Dominey, 2016). However, the first requirement is that it should be allowed to participate in advocacy and campaign entirely, must be allowed to speak on behalf of, and promote services for the persons they intend to support (Corcoran, 2008). The first task of the voluntary sector is that it has worked enough to curb re-offending (Lockhart, Wilkinson, & Wall, 1999,).

A vital strength of the third sector it is mostly free of the bureaucratic process, which offers it a level of flexibility that agencies in the public sector lack. The flexibility enables the third force to put offenders at the center of the services they deliver and to tailor these services around an offender’s specific needs. Alternatively, the flexibility of these entities ensures that they are fully informed of the issues affecting offenders and where required, to quickly adapt their services in response to changing needs. If the government is left to control the criminal justice system entirely, it will not benefit the offenders because it views them as a liability to the state. The voluntary sector’s freedom from the bureaucratic process also enables it to be more creative and innovative in its way of working (Fox, & Grimm, 2015).

The government agencies do not pay urgent attention to other groups because of its bureaucratic nature. For example, the third force is critical because it employs a different approach in dealing with women and the youth. Men and women have different needs, likewise for women who have been offended (Player, 2014). A substantial majority experience trauma, including domestic and sexual abuse, others are left homeless, and others are engaged in street sex work. Most importantly, women need to be taken care of because they are the center of primary care in all homes. The same case applies to the functions that support rehabilitation, such as homelessness, drugs and alcohol, mental health, and housing. The government alone cannot provide an oversight role that could ensure the smooth running of the criminal system because it tries to balance resources.

Also, note that imprisonment services present the most significant cost in the system. The best way of cutting this cost is through immediate intercession, prevention, and substitutes for custody. Such actions still direct the course of action to the involvement of the voluntary sector, which has proven to work towards prevention of offenses effectively (Northern Ireland, 2013). Therefore, the problem of voluntary sector involvement raised the question of whether they have the professional capacity to offer services that match the required professional standards (Martin, 2004). The justice system is a crucial sector of a country and any mistakes done in administration and control could be fatal for a nation. Though some agencies can handle issues in the criminal system, most of them do not have because they are just created from the view that their services are merely to comfort offenders and return them on the right track (Gazley, & Brudney, 2005).

Having a change in the scope of operation would ultimately solve such a problem. The second limitation is that the voluntary sector is increasingly becoming market-oriented, and their services could sometimes be offered out of a give and take basis. Because of the incentive for financial interest, they have been heavily involved in lobbying for punitive criminal justice policies. Likewise, voluntary organizations that secretly operate on economic motives would advocate for the continued growth of mass incarceration so that they benefit with their involvement in the system. For government agencies, their operations in the system to not illustrate any inherent conflict of interest. It may also be argued that voluntary organizations lack the power and authority to bring change to the justice system.

The restrictions on the use of force are often gauged on the rule of law, which is something that is not easy to change (Kowalewska, 2015). Such is not the case, because the process is free and open to both parties. With all the pros and cons considered, it is evident that voluntary sector involvement in the criminal justice system is the way forward. The disadvantages presented are also significant, but they are issues that could be solved be improved partnership between the government and the voluntary sector. Apart from connecting defendants with community resources, the importance of the voluntary sector should not be ignored. At a time of austerity in public finances radical shake-ups in probation and prison, the voluntary sector will continue to deliver needed services within the criminal justice system (Lister & Hucklesby, 2017).

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