National & Local Justice Awards
What are the National Justice Award's?
The Justice Awards were established by Baroness Scotland, Minister of State for the Criminal Justice System (CJS) and Law Reform, in 2004.
Thousands of people across the Criminal Justice System do an amazing job. Every day their dedication makes a dramtic difference to people's lives. The Justice Awards recognise exceptional achievement among staff and volunteers working in criminal justice. The awards are your chance to make sure that outstanding performers get the credit they deserve.
Any team or individual working or volunteering in the Criminal Justice System can be nominated for an award who work with victims, witnesses, defendants or offenders.
National Awards 2007
DR MOHAMED EL SHARKAWY WINS NATIONAL JUSTICE AWARD 2007 and JUSTICE SHIELD
On joing HMP The Mount in 2002, Mohamed saw that some prisoners felt uncomfortable about attending the Bible-based offending behaviour course, at that time the only one available at the establishment. Using his knowledge of Islamic, Christian and Jewish traditions thorugh his theological studies, Mohamed set about developing an offending behaviour programme which was appropriate to people of all faiths, and for those who had none. Focusing on the story of Joseph, the course covers issues surronding imprisonment, release, forgiveness of family and reconciliation. The course also has a strong Restorative Justice element, and Mohamed has developed this area further, going out with offenders to visit victims' families to effect reconciliation and closure. Mohamed has developed the course in his own time, using his own money for materials, and accrediting the course through the Open College Network. It has proved a massive success within the prison, with the course built in to the sentence plans of many of the prisoners. Over 331 prisoners have guaduated from the course, and mohamed is presently training staff to teach it in seven other prisons.
Dr Mohamed El Sharkawy receiving his award from the Baroness Scotland
Dr Mohamed El Sharkawy receiving the Justice Shield
National Awards 2006
PIP TEAM RUNNERS UP IN NATIONAL JUSTICE AWARDS
This project began ten years ago through a police officer asking local groups for people with learning disabilities what their concerns were about safety, harassment and bullying. She uncovered an extensive problem which inspired the team to tackle the issue involved. The police now proactively work to prevent the abuse and exclusion often faced by people with learning diffigulties.
They have introduced a wide range of positive programmes, including giving opportunities for people with learning difficulties to work with the police: ensuring a unified agency approach to learning disabilities which has become national good practice: and actively combating negative stereotyping and promoting citizenship within the learning disabled community. They have built both confidence and trust in the people they work with.
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The above pictures include the Baroness Scotland Opening Speech, PIP Group receiving their runners up award and the PIP Group