Clinks are offering free training for local infrastructure organisations on the Criminal Justice System

The role of local VCSE organisations supporting people and their families in the Criminal Justice System.

This workshop provides local infrastructure organisations the chance to deepen their understanding of the criminal justice system, exploring how it affects VCSE organisations locally and communities more broadly.

The recently announced Sentencing Act and the implementation of key measures due to commence in Spring 2026, will result in increased need for and engagement with local VCSE services to support community sentencing. Enabling individuals in contact with the criminal justice system and their families to access needs-led services and opportunities for support in their local areas.

The scale and complexity of the criminal justice system can often feel overwhelming and confusing. This workshop is designed to enable local infrastructure voluntary sector staff increase awareness of how the system works and to create space for discussion about how they can support local VCSE organisations operating within it, exploring the challenges and opportunities that exist.

The workshop will cover:

•             An overview of the criminal justice system and statutory agencies

•             National criminal justice context – How the implementation of the Sentencing Act will impact local VCSE organisations

•             Police, including the process of arrest to conviction

•             Prisons and Probation services

•             Local and regional statutory structures

•             The role of the voluntary sector in the criminal justice system.

Places are limited to a maximum of 20 participants per workshop, with a limit of 2 per individual organisation.

Sessions will take place on:

17th March, 1pm – 3.30pm

18th March, 1pm – 3.30pm

23rd March, 1pm – 3.30pm

You can book onto the workshops by going to our events page on the website https://clinks.org/events: