The Lib Dems are supportive of any move to encourage rehabilitation and reduce reoffending.
"Proper investment in community solutions and mental healthcare, effective working between departments and greater devolution to local authorities would cut crime and reduce reoffending.
Young offenders in Devon are being taught mindfulness techniques to reduce reoffending.
The submission to the European court quotes neuropsychologist Dr Arthur Anderson: "It is my opinion that Mr Jeremy Bamber is at low risk for reoffending at present.
Whilst we can never eliminate risk entirely, we are all entitled to expect that everything that can be done is being done to prevent these offenders from reoffending".
The report describes various detoxification programmes among prisoners that reduce reoffending rates, and information campaigns that make children more wary of seeking illicit highs.
Even allowing for changes in the method of recording, crime seems to be rising after falling for five years in succession.In his search for ways to cut the crime rate, Mr Straw could do worse than look at a scheme in Brighton which has had remarkable success in preventing drug addicts from reoffending.
The purpose of the trial is to assess whether such restorative justice reduces reoffending.
Reoffending by criminals could be reduced if non-governmental outfits were paid to meet a target, thus saving the state substantial amounts of money.The best moment to influence ministers' minds is when they are first in office, before they have been "captured" by their departments.
ORAS, a programme designed for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, flags the low-risk criminals whose likelihood of reoffending actually increases the longer they are locked up alongside violent criminals.
Some have begun experimenting with alternatives such as drug courts and day-reporting centres, which keep people out of prison and in treatment programmes, and with increased funding for job training and education behind bars in order to decrease reoffending.
