Specialist courts could help prolific offenders break addictions, says sentencing review head

Specialist courts focused on breaking the addictions of prolific offenders are "efficient" and "a good idea", the head of the government's sentencing review has said as he suggested they could be introduced across England and Wales.

- Rajeev Syal

In an interview with the Guardian, David Gauke praised "very encouraging" pilots of intensive supervision courts (ISCs), which steer recidivists to engage repeatedly with judges, probation officers and drug counsellors.

His words are the first major indication of Gauke's direction as he draws up plans to rip up the norm of sending criminals to prison without addressing the causes behind the crimes. His proposals will be presented to ministers in the spring.

Adult prolific offenders, defined as someone aged 21 or over with 16 or more previous convictions or cautions, often engage in drug-driven crimes such as theft, shoplifting or drug dealing.

According to Ministry of Justice figures, prolific offenders made up about a tenth (500,000) of all offenders in 2020-21 but were responsible for nearly half (10.5m) of all sentencings before the courts.

The intervention comes as part of a Guardian examination of the courts crisis in England and Wales. In the interview, conducted seven weeks into Gauke's review, he also:

Supported proposals for an intermediate court between magistrates and crown court, in which the bench consists of a district judge sitting with two magistrates.