Recommendation 82

Even when treatment is available, witnesses told us about delays before it starts. Justin Russell said that “as with services for others living in the community, there are huge waiting lists at the moment for things like mental health treatment, and people on probation are joining a very long queue.” 154 The Criminal Justice Alliance added that “the way we deliver community sentences is often too slow” and that “a common frustration for judges is hearing that … ordered rehabilitative services have been delayed”. 155 Revolving Doors confirmed that “needing to wait for treatment to start when given a community sentence that involves mental health, drug and/or alcohol treatment” is a “key issue” identified by people on probation involved with the charity. They argued that “this waiting period can jeopardise a person’s chances, potentially leading to relapse and/or reoffending”. 156 Caroline told us: “I relapsed back to my old behaviour in that time that I had to wait”. 157