By Steve Bargeton, political editor

CRIMINALS WILL be forced to pay compensation to their victims out of their own pockets as part of a crackdown on re-offending launched by ministers yesterday.

Around six out of 10 prisoners in Scotland are reconvicted within two years of their release from prison.

The new Management of Offenders etc. (Scotland) Bill contains a range of measures which aims to cut the rate of re-offending.

The legislation will give courts powers to recover the cost of compensation awarded to victims of crime from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority from criminals who have, or later acquire, the means to pay.

A more controversial proposal would allow housebreakers, and other petty criminals to spend the last part of their sentence in the community, subject to an electronically monitored curfew.

Home detention curfews, which are expected to begin in April 2006, will give prisoners a chance to re-engage with family, training and employment opportunities to ease their re-integration into society and reduce their likelihood of re-offending.

Other provisions will require the police, local authorities and prison service to establish joint arrangements for assessing and managing the risk posed by sex offenders.

Courts would also be given greater powers to take action against those who fail to comply with the terms of the sex offenders’ registration scheme.

“As well as improving the management of offenders—in prison, on release and in the community—we are also determined to introduce tighter controls on a group of offenders that generate the greatest public concern, sex offenders,” said Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson.

“That is why the bill will require the police, local authorities and the Scottish Prison Service to establish joint arrangements for assessing and managing the risk posed by sex offenders and tighten up the law to ensure the courts can act against those who breach the terms of the sex offenders registration scheme by failing to initially register their address or register a change in address.”

The minister said sending offenders to prison for short periods during which little can be done to tackle the root cause of their offending behaviour “is not the answer.”

“The broad range of measures in the bill demonstrates this Executive’s determination to get to grips with Scotland’s re-offending problem,” she said.

“Where offenders are determined to change their ways they will have the support to do so. Those who refuse to accept that support will no longer be able to blame the system and expect the public to suffer the consequences.

“We remain firmly on the side of the law-abiding majority and will ensure that we continue to strengthen the law to protect the public from the law-breaking few.”

SNP justice spokesman Kenny MacAskill said, “This is just more spin with little substance from the Executive.

“While some of the measures contained in the publication are welcome, many are already operating in some shape or form.

“What we require is better resources for existing agencies and less soundbites from the Executive.

“The courts and social work departments already have the powers required to deal with the major issues we face today, but in many instances lack the necessary resources. These institutions need assistance, not more directives.

“While there is a role for tagging, it is by no means a panacea. Prison should be for serious offences and dangerous offenders.

“Releasing them tagged or untagged early from their sentence should happen only under the strictest of circumstances.”