CPS Commissioned for Criminal Justice Project

29 July 2004

The NOMS proposals involve the marketisation of the prison and probation services in England and Wales over a five year period. The introduction of 'contestability', a purchaser/provider split and outsourcing will have far reaching impacts. The objectives of the project are to:

• Critically scrutinise the NOMS structure, with a particular focus on marketisation, the purchaser-provider split and the principles of 'contestability.
• Offer a critical account of the involvement of the non-state sector in the provision of 'correctional services'. with a particular focus on the private sector.
• Seek to place the NOMS proposals in the broader context of the government's public service reform agenda.

The research will include a critical history of marketisation of public services in Great Britain, with a particular focus on the criminal justice system.