Mutuals and voluntary, community and social enterprises will take over the Ministry of Justice’s Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) early next year.
The offender management and rehabilitation services have been owned by the MoJ since they launched in June 2014 as part of government’s rehabilitation reforms.
Ownership will shift to the private providers on 1 February 2015, the same day the Offender Rehabilitation Act (ORA) 2014 comes into force.
Eight providers will take charge of the 21 offender management and rehabilitation services in England and Wales.
Sodexo Justice Services in partnership with Narco will hold six CRCs, while Purple Futures will control five. Working Links will look after the Wales CRC and two other rehabilitation companies.
In a written statement, justice secretary Chris Grayling said: “This is another major step towards implementing the government’s probation reforms.
“For the first time in recent history, these reforms will mean that virtually every offender released from custody will receive statutory supervision and rehabilitation in the community.”