Commentary on Sections Part 3: Other Provisions about Offender Management Section 31: Accreditation of programmes for purposes of programme requirements
135.Currently section 202 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 makes provision for an ‘accreditation’ body to accredit programmes. The Correctional Services Accreditation Panel (CSAP) is designated as the accreditation body and is an advisory non-departmental public body. The Panel replaced the Prison Service’s General and Sex Offender Treatment Programme Accreditation Panels established by the Prison Service in 1996.
136.The establishment of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) has created a different framework for the provision of correctional services. The separation of commissioning from operational delivery has secured the independence from service providers necessary for NOMS to make accreditation decisions itself in relation to offending behaviour programmes. There is therefore no longer a need for an accreditation body that is independent of NOMS and constituted as a non-departmental public body. This section amends section 202 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, making provision for the Secretary of State to accredit programmes in place of the accreditation body. Decisions on accreditation will be taken after consulting and receiving advice from an independent non-statutory panel of experts to replace the CSAP.