Residents asked to name criminals punishment (From The Northern Echo)

Residents asked to name criminals punishment

1:39pm Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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A PILOT scheme is asking residents for ideas of projects young offenders can undertake to pay for their crimes.

The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales is running the Making Good website which shows what repatriation work is being done.

It also has a suggestion box for the public and community groups to use to nominate their ideas for work.

Schemes in the past have included removing graffiti, mending signposts and fences, picking up litter and helping in charity shops.

Sessions last for around two hours and take place at weekends and on evenings and as well as a being a punishment they aim to give the offenders new job skills.

County councillor Caroline Patmore, executive member for youth justice, said: "For the first time local people are being asked for specific ideas for community reparation which will benefit both their local area and the young person carrying out the work.

"Reparation work is vital in helping the young person understand the consequences of his or her actions while repairing the harm caused by their offence."

The public has until June 17 to make suggestions at the website at www.yjb.gov.uk/makinggood.