Community penalties warrants: a gap in the criminal justice system?

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate that specialist systems of warrant enforcement are more likely to ensure effective enforcement of community penalties warrants than non-specialist systems. The study looked at the way these two contrasting approaches affect the priority given to the execution of community penalties warrants, along with the extent to which enquiries are pursued. This is followed by an examination of the adequacy of monitoring and supervision for warrants enforcement, and of the views of the warrants enforcement staff on any possible transfer of their tasks to civil enforcement agencies. The article concludes by suggesting future policy options to ensure greater efficiency and effectiveness of community penalties warrants enforcement.